Red Wings hire Hiller, Brewer as assistant coaches

The Detroit Red Wings have hired Jim Hiller and Andrew Brewer as assistant coaches, the team announced Wednesday.

Hiller had been coach of the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League since the 2009-10 season. In 2011-12 he won the WHL coach of the year award and the Brian Kilrea Award as coach of the year in the Canadian Hockey League.

He played for the Red Wings during the 1992-93 season, with two goals and six assists in 21 games.

Hiller said he's excited to get the chance to work under Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

"For me, for my first experience to be in the NHL, to be with Mike, there couldn't be a better guy to start with," Hiller told MLive.com.

"It's awfully exciting. I spent a lot of time in juniors, always with an eye on the NHL. Had a chance to start discussing with Mike about the opportunity and couldn't be happier that my first opportunity is with a guy like Mike. I don't know if there's any better guy to start with."

Brewer joins the Red Wings after spending three years with Hockey Canada as video coach for international tournaments, including for Babcock with Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Hiller and brewer join Tony Granato, who was hired as an assistant coach earlier this summer. Detroit's assistant coaches from last season will not return; Tom Renney took over as CEO of Hockey Canada, and Bill Peters was hired as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.