skip navigation

Motzko To Return as U.S. National Junior Team Head Coach

By USA Hockey, 04/21/17, 2:00PM EDT

Share

Entire Coaching Staff From Last Year's Gold Medal-Winning U.S. National Junior Team Is Back

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud State University), who guided the U.S. National Junior Team to its fourth-ever gold medal at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto, Canada, will return as head coach for the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team, it was announced today by USA Hockey exclusively on NHL Network. USA Hockey also announced today that Motzko will be joined by the entire 2017 U.S. coaching staff in assistant coaches Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass./Boston College), Grant Potulny (Minneapolis, Minn./Northern Michigan University), Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, Pa./Providence College) and Steve Miller (Littleton, Colo./Air Force Academy). 

"It's terrific to have this staff return with Bob at the helm," said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director for hockey operations at USA Hockey, who will also serve as general manager of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team. "We're looking forward to having the tournament on our home soil and it will be a real benefit to have an experienced coaching staff lead us in our quest to repeat last year's gold-medal performance."

The 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship is set for Buffalo, New York, from Dec. 26, 2017 - Jan. 5, 2018, and will include the first ever outdoor game in tournament play when the United States takes on Canada at New Era Field on Dec. 29. 

Motzko, who led the U.S. to a gold medal in his international head coaching debut, aims to lead the U.S. to back-to-back gold medal finishes for the first time ever.

"I'm deeply honored that USA Hockey has asked me and my staff to lead the United States in this event once again," said Motzko. "While winning gold was special, the opportunity to win gold on home ice is even more enticing. We're excited to work together again and begin our journey towards another gold medal at our National Junior Evaluation Camp in August."

Head men's ice hockey coach of his alma mater, St. Cloud State University, Motzko is representing the United States for a third time. In addition to his gold-medal head coaching performance last year, Motzko served as an assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden.

In his 12 seasons at the helm of St. Cloud State, the 2014 NCHC Coach of the Year and two-time WCHA Coach of the Year (2007, 2006), has produced seven 20 or more win seasons; seven NCAA tournament appearances; one NCAA Frozen Four appearance; two regular-season conference titles (one each: WCHA, NCHC); and one NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship.

Tournament Website

WJC Home

ABOUT BROWN

Brown, who served as an assistant coach with Motzko last year and also on the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team, will be behind the Team USA bench for the third time. A two-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992), Brown has spent the past 13 seasons with the Boston College men's ice hockey program where he works closely with the team's defensemen and special teams.

ABOUT POTULNY

Potulny will be serving on the staff of his third U.S. National Junior Team and seeking his third gold medal after helping Team USA claim one last year and also in 2013. Potulny, who was recently named head coach at Northern Michigan University, spent the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota men's ice hockey program where he helped his alma mater claim six straight regular-season conference titles and reach two NCAA Frozen Fours.

ABOUT MAYOTTE

Mayotte will be a member of a U.S. national team coaching staff for the second time. An assistant coach with the Providence College men's ice hockey program, Mayotte works with the goaltenders and penalty kill unit. His first season with the Friars in 2014-15 ended with the program's first-ever NCAA national championship.

ABOUT MILLER

Miller will be an assistant coach for Team USA for the second time. Currently the director of hockey for Air Force Academy, Miller has been a part of three NCAA national championship staffs, including once with Providence College (2015) and twice with Denver (2004, 2005).

NOTES: NHL Network is the exclusive television home of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in the United States ... Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.) is the first U.S. National Junior Team coach to coach in back-to-back IIHF World Junior Championships since Keith Allain did so in 2001 and 2002 ... Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the ninth consecutive year ... Approximately 40 players will attend the 2017 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, this August. Invitees to the camp will be announced in the coming months.


2018 U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time (ET)
Tues., Dec. 26 Denmark KeyBank Center 8:00 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 28 Slovakia KeyBank Center 8:00 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 29 Canada New Era Field TBD
Sun., Dec. 31 Finland KeyBank Center 4:00 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 2 Quarterfinals KeyBank Center
or HarborCenter
TBD
Thurs., Jan. 4 Semifinals KeyBank Center 4:00 p.m.
or 8:00 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 5 Bronze-Medal Game KeyBank Center 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 5 Gold-Medal Game KeyBank Center 8:00 p.m.

2018 WJC Groups

Group A Group B
United States Belarus
Canada Czech Republic
Denmark Russia
Finland Sweden
Slovakia Switzerland

Ticket Info


U.S. Coaches & Results

YEAR HEAD COACH ASSISTANT COACHES RECORD RESULT
2024 David Carle Brett Larson, Steve Miller, David Lassonde, Garrett Raboin 6-1-0-0* Gold
2023 Rand Pecknold Pat Ferschweiler, Reid Cashman, Nick Fohr, Jared Waimon 4-1-0-2* Bronze
2022 Nate Leaman Kris Mayotte, Steve Miller, Grant Putolny 4-0-0-1* 5th
2021 Nate Leaman Ted Donato, Kris Mayotte, Steve Miller 6-0-0-1* Gold
2020 Scott Sandelin Steve Miller, David Lassonde, Brett Larson, Jerry Keefe 2-1-0-2& 6th
2019 Mike Hastings Steve Miller, David Lassonde, Scott Sandelin, Jerry Keefe 5-0-1-1* Silver
2018 Bob Motzko Greg Brown, Grant Potulny, Kris Mayotte, Steve Miller 4-1-0-2* Bronze
2017 Bob Motzko Greg Brown, Grant Potulny, Kris Mayotte, Steve Miller 5-2-0-0* Gold
2016 Ron Wilson Chris Chelios, Danton Cole, Kevin Reiter 5-0-0-2* Bronze
2015 Mark Osiecki Don Granato, Kevin Patrick, Mike Ayers 2-1-0-2* 5th
2014 Don Lucia Greg Brown, Bob Motzko, David Lassonde 3-0-0-2* 5th
2013 Phil Housley Mark Osiecki, Grant Potulny, David Lassonde 5-0-0-2* Gold
2012 Dean Blais Scott Sandelin, Tom Ward, Joe Exter 4-0-3-0* 7th
2011 Keith Allain Mark Osiecki, Phil Housley, Joe Exter 4-1-0-1* Bronze
2010 Dean Blais Mark Osiecki, Tom Ward, Joe Exter 5-1-1-0* Gold
2009 Ron Rolston Nate Leaman, P.K. O’Handley, Jeff Blashill 3-1-0-2* 5th  
2008 John Hynes Keith Allain, Patrick Foley 4-0-0-2* 4th   
2007 Ron Rolston Phil Housley, Nate Leaman 3-1-2-1* Bronze  
2006 Walt Kyle Mike Gibbons, John Hynes 3-3-1   4th   
2005 Scott Sandelin David Quinn, Mike Hastings 3-4-0   4th   
2004 Mike Eaves John Hynes, Ken Martel 6-0-0   Gold
2003 Lou Vairo Jeff Sauer, Ron Rolston, Mike Hastings 4-3-0   4th   
2002 Keith Allain Jim Johnson, Red Gendron, John Hynes 4-1-2   5th   
2001 Keith Allain Jim Johnson, Tim Taylor, Red Gendron 5-2-0   5th   
2000 Jeff Jackson Keith Allain, Jim Johnson, Jim Tortorella 2-3-2   4th  
1999 Jeff Jackson Bob Mancini, Jim Tortorella 3-3-0   8th
1998 Jeff Jackson Greg Cronin, Bob Mancini 4-3-0   5th  
1997 Jeff Jackson Greg Cronin, Mel Pearson 4-1-1   Silver  
1996 Jack Parker Don Cahoon, Mike Guentzel 3-3-0   5th   
1995 Jeff Jackson Mike Guentzel 3-4-0   5th   
1994 Dean Blais Bill Beaney, Mike Guentzel 1-5-1   6th   
1993 Walt Kyle John Cunniff, Red Gendron 4-3-0   4th   
1992 Walt Kyle John Cunniff, Bob O’Connor 5-2-0   Bronze  
1991 Kevin Constantine Walt Kyle, Bob O’Connor 4-2-1   4th   
1990 Steve Cedorchuk Kevin Constantine, Jim Knapp 1-6-0   7th   
1989 Steve Cedorchuk Dean Blais, Kevin Constantine 3-3-1   5th   
1988 Terry Christensen Steve Cedorchuk, Dean Blais 1-6-0   6th   
1987 Dave Peterson Ben Smith, Terry Christensen 4-3-0   4th   
1986 Dave Peterson Ben Smith, Terry Christensen 4-3-0 Bronze  
1985 Doug Woog Dave Peterson, Ben Smith 2-5-0   6th   
1984 John Perpich Jack Barzee, Dave O’Connor, Jack Ferreira 2-5-0    6th   
1983 Bill Hasler John Perpich, Dave O’Connor 3-4-0    5th   
1982 Lou Vairo Jay Riley, Dave Peterson, Doug Woog, Jim Nelson 2-5-0   6th  
1981 Lou Vairo Jay Riley 2-3-0   6th  
1980 Lou Vairo Bill Hasler 1-3-1   7th  
1979 Lou Vairo Herb Boxer, Jeff Kravitz 2-3-0   6th  
1978 Len Lilyholm Herb Boxer, Jeff Kravitz 4-2-0   5th  
1977 Marshall Johnston Lou Vairo 1-5-1   7th  

Recent News

Trending Articles

Youth Olympic Games athletes stand poised to drop the puck at a San Joes Sharks Game. San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks captains are ready to take the face-off.

Twitter

Instagram