Former NHL coach Ron Wilson to lead 2016 U.S. Junior team
Ron Wilson is heading back behind the bench.
The former NHL and Olympic coach has been named the bench boss for the 2016 U.S. Junior national team, it was announced Thursday.
This certainly won't be Wilson's first tour of duty with USA Hockey. The 60-year-old guided the men's national team to a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, losing to Canada in the final courtesy of Sidney Crosby's golden goal.
He also coached the 1996 World Cup team that won the inaugural event, months after winning a bronze as head coach at the World Championship.
"This completes my resume as far as USA Hockey goes" -- Wilson
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 4, 2015
Wilson, who also has 1,401 games of NHL coaching experience under his belt, added he's not looking at the opportunity as a means to get back into the pro ranks, but rather to repay the program for giving its loyalty to him over the years.
The first order of business, it would appear, is going to be getting to know some of the players who he might soon be coaching.
"I have no idea who some of the players are, I've heard their names, so it's wide open," Ron Wilson with a dose of honesty.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 4, 2015
Wilson's last coaching gig was with the Toronto Maple Leafs.