It appears USA Hockey has decided on their coach and general manager for the upcoming Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
According to Kevin Allen of USA Today, USA will select Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Dan Bylsma as their head coach and David Poile of the Nashville Predators as the general manager.
#TribHKY Believe credit goes to @ByKevinAllen but I can confirm that Bylsma will coach Team USA at Olympics. #pens Story to post. Fun night.
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) June 28, 2013
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero and former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke will be part of the staff as well.
They are expected to make an official announcement over the weekend.
Bylsma, who was chosen over Philadelphia’s Peter Laviolette and Vancouver’s John Tortorella, recently received a two-year extension by the Penguins that will see him coach the club through the 2015-16 season.
“I’m very pleased to announce the extension with Dan Bylsma, am really happy for his family,” Shero told reporters during an hour-long press conference in Pittsburgh. “I believe in Dan Bylsma. I believe in our coaching staff.
“I believe I have a very good coach. I want to reward him with an extension that shows him and shows people he’s my coach.”
Team USA is coming off silver-medal performance in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver when they fell 3-2 to Canada in overtime.
