Poile, Bylsma Tapped to lead US Hockey Team

Nashville Predators GM David Poile and Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma was named by USA Hockey as general manager and head coach for the 2014 United States Olympic hockey team.

In an announcement prior to the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in Newark, USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorlo said of Bylsma “He’s rapidly established himself as one of the most prominent coaches in our country today and we know he’ll help put us in the best position of achieving our ultimately goal of bringing home the gold medal.”

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Poile, of Nashville, is one of the longest continuous tenured general managers in NHL history. Since he was put in charge of the Washington Capitals in 1982, he is tied with Glen Sather with 31 years of service and only trails Jack Adams at 35 years. Adams was with the Detroit Red Wings from 1927-28 to 1961-62. With the US Men’s National Team, Poile was assistant to Brian Burke during the 2010 Olympics and previously served in the GM role for the 1998 and 1999 World championship teams.

“He continues to have a remarkable management career in the National Hockey League and the vast experience and expertise he brings to the table will serve us well in our goal to bring the gold medal back to the United States,” DeGregorlo said of Poile.

Bylsma, a native of Grand Haven, Mich., has quickly risen the NHL coaching ranks to be among the best in the league. He’s led the Penguins to Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2008 and 2009.

“It’s an unbelievable honor to be selected to represent our country … Together with our coaching staff and management group, I will do everything I can to prepare our team to be in a position to win gold in Sochi,” Bylsma said during his press conference.

Also at the press conference the rest of the US Olympic front office staff was announced.  The front office staff includes Ray Shero, associate general manager; Brian Burke, director of player personnel, and Jim Johannson,  assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Other NHL front office personnel was named to the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group. This group will be involved in the building of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, including Stan Bowman (Chicago), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles) and Dale Tallon(Florida) and NHL scout Don Waddell (Pittsburgh).

Assistant coaches for the texm is expected to be announced later this month. USA Hockey also announced there will be an orientation camp the last week of August in Arlington, Va., at Kettler Capitals IcePlex, the practice facility of the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

In Other Olympic News

Just over a week ago we reported the sticking points the NHL and the IOC had in regards to sending players to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Time is running out, but it appears one side gave in when it came to who will cover NHL player insurance in case of injury.

If you were fortunate enough to watch Hotstove on CBC after Game 5 you saw Elliotte Friedman‘s report that the IOC will cover the cost of player insurance. While it’s not set in stone that players will go to the Olympics, this was a major hurdle that both sides were apart on. The IIHF now has the NHL’s proposal for player participation and now it is up to the IIHF and the NHL to work out the remaining details. Those remaining details include accommodations for the players families and other NHL dignitaries. The costs for travel, hotels and game tickets are as much as five times higher than previous Olympics in Turin, Italy and Vancouver because of Sochi’s remote location.

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