In the midst of a desperate attempt to keep the Detroit Red Wings’ 25-year playoff streak alive, coaching the Wisconsin Badgers didn’t seem like an attainable goal for the new Wisconsin men’s hockey head coach Tony Granato.
This spring, the then-Red Wing’s assistant coach was most concerned with ensuring the aging veterans and future NHL Hall of Famers of Detroit had one last chance at winning a Stanley Cup. Tony Granato, a 28-year veteran of the NHL circuit, didn’t even feel he was the right fit for the Badgers’ coaching job.
With his brother Don Granato and Mark Osiecki each on the shortlist, Tony Granato was wary of competing against family and two highly-skilled, veteran coaches and recruiters.