College coach is a candidate

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 30, 2000

The Lightning's search for an assistant coach stretched to Minnesota, where Mark Huglen, coach of the University of Minnesota-Crookston, received a call from Tampa Bay coach Steve Ludzik.

"He called and asked if I would be interested in an interview for the assistant coach position," Huglen said. "We talked for a while, but we haven't moved any farther than that."

Huglen, 38, has been at Minnesota-Crookston for four years. He played for Lightning general manager Rick Dudley at Carolina of the East Coast Hockey League, and was Dudley's assistant for one season at Flint of the IHL.

"He's a very bright kid," Dudley said. "And I would say he's a viable candidate. The only knock against Mark is he doesn't have any NHL experience, and there are a couple of people lurking who have NHL experience, but we don't know if they are going to be available."

Huglen said he is not looking to leave Minnesota, "but if they're willing to take the next step and fly me out for an interview, I'm certainly willing to listen."

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