Hockey Canada's latest announcement delivers brutal blow to Avalanche coach
Photo credit: Colorado Hockey Now
Despite years of success behind the Colorado Avalanche bench, head coach Jared Bednar was nowhere to be found in Hockey Canada's latest coaching decision for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic games in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
Team Canada's bench in Italy this February will feature a few recognizable coaching figures.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar snubbed hard by Hockey Canada.
Tyler Kuehl from Daily Faceoff writes that on Monday, Hockey Canada revealed that Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, Philadelphia Flyers' Rick Tocchet, and former NHL head coach Pete DeBoer will serve as assistant coaches for Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
"The decision on the coaching staff was made by Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper, as well as general manager Doug Armstrong and his staff. It comes as no surprise that the three men worked alongside Cooper in February, helping guide Canada to win the 4 Nations Face-Off." -Kuehl
Cooper acknowledged the influence the trio will bring as a new generation of NHL stars prepares to take the ice on the world's biggest stage next year.
«This is a highly skilled group of coaches that bring impressive résumés to our staff. This group of coaches will provide consistency and a winning pedigree to our team, and I know our players will greatly benefit from this world-class coaching staff.» -Cooper
Cassidy has spent the last three seasons behind the Golden Knights' bench, leading them to their first Stanley Cup two years ago. The Ottawa native is in his third head coaching stint, following a successful six-year run with the Boston Bruins that included a Jack Adams Award in 2019-20.
Before joining Team Canada for the 4 Nations, Cassidy had never been part of a coaching staff at a major international tournament.
"DeBoer is the only one of the three currently without a job, having been fired by the Dallas Stars shortly after the team was knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers this past spring. Along with coaching at the 4 Nations, the Dunnville, Ontario native has served as an assistant coach for Canada at the 1998 and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championships, as well as the IIHF Men's World Championship four times." -Kuehl
Tocchet is settling into his new role with the Philadelphia Flyers after leaving the Vancouver Canucks.
A three-time Stanley Cup champion and 2024 Jack Adams Award winner, Tocchet, like Cassidy, had no previous international coaching experience before participating in the 4 Nations tournament.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 22 | 21 ANSWERS Hockey Canada's latest announcement delivers brutal blow to Avalanche coach Should Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar be part of Team Canada's 2026 Olympic coaching staff? | ||
| yes | 14 | 66.7 % |
| no | 7 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
