USA Hockey is expected to name their head coach for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey on Monday evening. However, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, the cat is out of the bag.
The U.S. will be coach by John Tortorella, the winningest American-born coach in NHL history.
Prior to the leak, USA Hockey announced that the coach would be unveiled on ESPN by Steve Levy following Monday Night Football. It was slated for ESPN, because they’ll be providing World Cup coverage.
Tortorella is entering his second straight season without a NHL club to coach, but that ought to give him ample time to prepare for the World Cup, which is slated to kick off in September 2016. The time away may also have given him time to assess changes in the game over the last couple of years without needing to relate it to the salary cap or a team in hand. This may be a very shrewd hiring by USA Hockey and team management.
He most recently coached the Vancouver Canucks for a single season before getting fired. That followed a five-season stint with the New York Rangers and a six-season stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, during which the team won a Stanley Cup.
Head coach for 2016 World Cup team to be unveiled on @espn by Steve Levy after tonight's #MNF game. Who will it be? pic.twitter.com/aRKb7uPbRx
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) September 21, 2015
Torts will be working closely with Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi, who was GM of the U.S. team in early August.
American-born wings across the NHL cringed at all the shots they’re going to be asked to block in September.
