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FILE – Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan stands behind the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators on Monday, April 15, 2024 in Pittsburgh. Sullivan has been named coach of the U.S. national team for the 2026 Milan Olympics. USA Hockey announced the long-awaited decision on Saturday, May 18, and also announced that the Pittsburgh Penguins coach will be sitting on the bench for next year's NHL Quad-Country Tournament. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)
Mike Sullivan was selected Saturday to coach the U.S. team for the 2026 Olympics in Milan, marking the two-time Stanley Cup champion's first gold medal for the country since 1980's Miracle on Ice. This is an expected move that will see Japan take on the role of
U.S. Hockey also announced that the Pittsburgh Penguins coach will be on the bench for next year's Quad. This tournament will be held by the NHL in February 2025 to give players a taste of the international competition leading up to the Olympics. Milan will mark the NHL player's return to the Olympics after missing the past two tournaments.
“We are excited to have Mike lead our team,” said U.S. General Manager Bill Guerin. “He is one of the best coaches in the game, and his background, including experience in international hockey, is well suited to put our team in the best position to win.”
Sullivan, a native of Marshfield, Massachusetts, also served as an assistant at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. Most recently, John joined Tortorella's staff for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Both events were disastrous for the United States, losing to eventual champion Canada in the semifinals at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and losing to Finland in the bronze medal game.
The NHL is scheduled to return to Milan and then France in 2030 after an agreement was reached between the league, players union, International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation. This is an opportunity for a generation of American star players, including Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy, and a powerhouse in goal, to finally compete on the world stage together. becomes.
Sullivan, who led Pittsburgh to a Cup championship, will host the program. He was scheduled to coach the U.S. team in Beijing in 2022 before the NHL's late withdrawal due to pandemic scheduling issues.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to coach Team USA in these two important international competitions,” Sullivan said in the release. “It's been great to watch the progress our country has made in hockey over the course of my career. It's been an honor to lead some of our best players and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
Sullivan, 56, previously coached the Boston Bruins during a long career that began in the early 2000s. He has been with Pittsburgh since he was promoted as a midseason replacement during the 2015-16 season. As a player, he represented the United States at the 1988 World Juniors and the 1997 World Championships.
“Mike Sullivan is not only a great coach, but a man with a strong passion for American hockey,” said USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher. “He is a world-class leader and has played an important role in our nation's hockey community for a very long time.”
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