Report: Mike Sullivan to Coach US Olympic Team

The NHL participation in the 2022 Beijing Olympic games is not yet official, but the participation is all but guaranteed. The NHL blocked off two weeks in the middle of the 2021-22 season for the Olympic games, and all sides are proceeding as if it will happen. According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, USA Hockey has bestowed the honor to lead Team USA to Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan.

Sullivan will be named the Team USA head coach, presumably when everything becomes official.

Sullivan has assisted in tournaments before. He was an assistant coach in the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. The 2022 Olympics will be Sullivan’s first time to lead Team USA. He is one of four active American coaches in the NHL; John Tortorella mutually parted ways with the Columbus Blue Jackets after last season. Tortorella was the fifth American coach.

The others are Jon Hynes (Nashville), Peter Laviolette (Washington), Don Granato (Buffalo), and Jeff Blashill (Detroit).

The United States Men’s Hockey hasn’t medaled since a silver Medal in 2010, Sidney Crosby’s famous Gold Medal goal for Team Canada in Vancouver.

Team USA finished seventh in 2018 at PyeongChang, and fourth at Sochi, Russia, in 2014. Team USA finished in eighth when Sullivan was an assistant in 2006.

Sullivan has coached 589 NHL games. His record is 321-187-15-66. He has a 44-38 record in the playoffs.