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Posted

Congrats Coach!!!

 

https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-22709/coaching-staff-named-for-4-nations-face-off

 

Coaching staff named for 4 Nations Face-Off

 

CALGARY, Alberta  Hockey Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), has announced the coaching and support staffs for the 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12-20 in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Assistant coaches Bruce Cassidy (Ottawa, ON/Vegas, NHL), Peter DeBoer (Dunnville, ON/Dallas, NHL), Rick Tocchet (Scarborough, ON/Vancouver, NHL) and Misha Donskov (London, ON/Dallas, NHL), and video coach James Emery (Calgary, AB) have been named to the coaching staff alongside Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC/Tampa Bay, NHL), who was named head coach in June.

The coaching staff was selected by Cooper, general manager Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB/Boston, NHL), associate GM Jim Nill (Hanna, AB/Dallas, NHL), assistant GM Julien BriseBois (Greenfield Park, QC/Tampa Bay, NHL) and director of player personnel Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Pittsburgh, NHL), with support from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations.

“I am excited to welcome Bruce, Peter, Misha, Rick and James to the coaching staff for the 4 Nations Face-Off, as this is a highly-skilled group of coaches that bring impressive accolades and experience at all levels of the game,” Cooper said. “I know our players will greatly benefit from this world-class coaching staff, and I look forward to working alongside all five and representing Canada in international competition in February.”

Cassidy has served as the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights for the past two seasons (2022-24), winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. He joined Vegas after more than five seasons (2018-22) as head coach of the Boston Bruins, leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 and winning the Jack Adams Award in 2019-20. Cassidy also served one season (2016-17) as an assistant with Boston, as well as eight seasons (2008-16) as head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins. He was also the head coach of the Washington Capitals (2002-04), an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks (2005-06), head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs (2006-08) and head coach of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in (2001-02), winning the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as AHL coach of the year. As a player, Cassidy represented Canada at the 1984 IIHF World Junior Championship and suited up for Canada’s National Men’s Team during the 1986-87 season.

DeBoer has been the head coach of the Dallas Stars for the past two seasons (2022-24) after more than two seasons as head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights (2020-22). He has also served as head coach of the San Jose Sharks (2015-19), New Jersey Devils (2011-14) and Florida Panthers (2008-11), making two appearances in the Stanley Cup Final (2012, 2016). DeBoer also served as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Detroit Jr. Red Wings (1993-95), as well as GM and head coach of the Detroit Jr. Whalers (1995-97), Plymouth Whalers (1997-2001) and Kitchener Rangers (2001-08), winning the Memorial Cup in 2003. Internationally, he was an assistant coach at the 1998 and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning gold in 2005, and was an assistant at four IIHF World Championships (2010, 2011, 2014, 2015), winning gold in 2015. He was also named an assistant with Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but was unable to attend.

Tocchet is entering his second full season as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks after winning the Jack Adams Award in 2023-24. Previously, he spent three years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2014-17), winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. Tocchet has also served as head coach (2017-21) and assistant coach (2005-06) with the Arizona Coyotes, assistant (2008-09) and head coach (2009-10) of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2002-04). He played 1,144 NHL games over 18 seasons, winning the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1992. He also won the Canada Cup twice (1987, 1991) and suited up for Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 1990 IIHF World Championship.

Donskov is entering his second season as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. Previously, he spent more than three years (2020-23) as an assistant coach and four (2016-20) as director of hockey operations with the Vegas Golden Knights, winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. He was also an assistant coach with the OHL’s London Knights (2009-12) and held the position of assistant general manager for one season (2011-12), winning an OHL championship in 2012. He also served as an associate coach with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s and video coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team before joining Hockey Canada in 2014 as manager of hockey operations, analytics and video, winning two IIHF World Championship gold medals  one as video coach (2015) and one as assistant coach (2016) - and a gold medal at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship as video coach. He also won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey as an assistant coach and the 2019 Spengler Cup as director of hockey operations and assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team.

The support staff that will work with Canada’s entry at the 4 Nations Face-Off includes:

  • Athletic therapists Kent Kobelka (Revelstoke, BC/Calgary, NHL) and Domenic Nicoletta (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Ottawa, NHL)
  • Massage therapist Andy Hüppi (Schmerikon, SUI)
  • Team physician Dr. Ian Auld (Victoria, BC/Calgary, NHL)
  • Equipment managers John Forget (Oshawa, ON/Ottawa, NHL) and Darren Granger (Brandon, MB/Los Angeles, NHL)
  • Hockey operations managers Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB) and Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, MB)
  • Media relations director Sean Kelso (Vancouver, BC/Calgary, NHL)
  • Media relations manager Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, ON)

“We believe we have assembled an elite group of coaches and support staff that will be key contributors to Team Canada’s success as we continue to prepare for international competition this season,” Sweeney said. “Each individual brings unique experience to our team that will prepare our players to be at their best, and we know everyone is excited for the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf with pride.”

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston.

Canada’s full roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off will be announced between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. For more information, please visit the official tournament page.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

  • Like 2
Posted

Congrats to Tocchet. He deserves it. While I’ll watch those games, I’m feeling a bit mixed on them. Anything that distracts or has potential to injure our superstars in the year that we’re set to win the cup is not ideal, especially when it’s more just for bragging rights and not actually like an Olympic medal or anything. It comes shortly before ramping up towards the playoffs. A bit concerning in the mix of a squeezed 82 game regular season, but like I said, I’ll watch.

Posted (edited)
On 8/2/2024 at 4:41 PM, Integra250 said:

So who are our known / potential invitees for this tournament?

 

USA:

Miller

Hughes

Demko

Boeser?

 

Sweden:

Pettersson

Hoglander?

 

 

Huges was named with the first batch of US players.    A few different projected lists have been made,  Boeser is on some, not others.   Demko versus Hellebuyck.   Swayman in the mix.   Probably will be based on what happens next season.   Brock / Tage Thompson/Alex Debricant are all in the mix for the last forward.   NHL.com has this:

 

Brady T A Mathews  Mathew T 

Robertson Eichel J Hughes 

Guentzel  Trocheck  Caufield *

Keller  JT Miller/Larkin Conner 

 

So their 13th forward, is either Miller or Larkin.    Personally think Caufield is the odd man out for RWs if they want to bump someone and insert Brock instead.   Also not a big fan of Keller and Caufield as far as size goes anyways.    And not sure why they wouldn't have JT Miller and Brock on the same line as a slam dunk.   They are the only ones familiar with each other, and as we all know, they were used head to head against the leagues best all season long.   Plus Brock had a great playoffs.     Sure they are making projections.   Unless there is a physical reason (injury),  don't see this as their best lineup.  

 

As far as natural RWs go, only Caufield and Brock play this spot.   The rest of the wingers are LWs.  They've got a lot of guys playing on their off side.   And only two of their center laden group, shoots R (Eichel and Trochek).    So pretty their lineup (NHL.com), although they made reasons for it,  wont look like this one.    I'm also pretty sure, that they will consider using JT Millers line with Brock, as their third line.    Why wouldn't they?  Look at what they did last year.   Better than Eichel.  An absolutely sick plus minus considering that they played the McDavids, Mckinnons, Kucherov's of the league, and put the puck in the net more then they did.   An even plus minus would have been good.   Instead, for lack of better words, they far outperformed a lot of they'd guys, despite the lack of respect on paper value.   JT Miller should be, and not being a homer, their second line center at this point in his career. 

 

As for Brock.   Do believe that his play, helped Miller's, and vice versa.   If I was building team USA, those two would be part of the second round of names on their list. 

Edited by IBatch
Posted
10 hours ago, Jaimito said:

Good. Just don't put him on the PP duties. 

Actually we should, if he can ruin McDavid's confidence on the PP, then we do ourselves a big favour down the road.

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