USA Hockey will name former Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Ron Wilson as the next coach of the U.S. national junior team, according to Kevin Allen of USA Today.
A conference call making the announcement official is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. EST on Thursday. It will feature general manager of the 2016 U.S. junior team Jim Johannson plus the coach.
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Wilson last coached in the NHL in 2012 when he was fired by the Maple Leafs after three-plus seasons in Toronto. He has also served as head coach of the San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the mid-90s.
In addition to his NHL career, the 60-year-old has experience on the international stage. He led the United States to a championship at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, coached Team USA at the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics and led them to a silver medal at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
The 2016 world juniors take place in Helsinki, Finland with the U.S. seeking its first medal since the gold they won in 2013. Team USA is coming off back-to-back fifth place finishes at the tournament. The U.S. roster is expected to feature projected top pick in the 2016 NHL Draft Auston Matthews.
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