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HOCKEY
Tony Granato

USA Hockey builds NHL-caliber coaching staff for 2018 Olympics

Kevin Allen
USA TODAY

USA Hockey can’t use NHL players, but the Americans will have an NHL-caliber coaching staff for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Tony Granato will coach Team USA in the 2018 Olympics.

Former NHL and current University of Wisconsin coach Tony Granato was named head coach of the U.S. Olympic team on Friday at a press conference at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. His assistants will be Chris Chelios, Scott Young, Keith Allain and Ron Rolston.

Jim Johannson, a longtime USA Hockey executive, was announced as the team's general manager.

Even without NHL players, USA Hockey officials optimistic about potential Olympic roster

Granato, 53, seems like the perfect fit for a team that will be made up of college players, minor league pros and Americans who are playing in Europe’s pro leagues. Granato's diverse coaching background will serve him well in this position. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of college players, and the mindsets of pro players.

As an NHL player, he logged 773 games and scored 30 or more goals four times. He was only 38 when he became coach of the the Colorado Avalanche in 2002-03. Granato went 104-78-17-16 in 215 games during parts of three seasons (from 2002-04 and 2008-09) in Colorado.

But the read on Granato is that he’s a much better coach today than he was back then.  After losing his job in Colorado, he ended up as an NHL assistant coach and earned continuous praise from players and head coaches for the work he did behind the scenes.

He was a Detroit Red Wings assistant when he took the job at Wisconsin in March 2016. The Red Wings' brass had a lot of respect for his talents.

Granato is a personable coach, a strong communicator who can be tough when he needs to be. He would be similar in style to New York Islanders coach Doug Weight, striving for mutual respect between coach and player while firmly establishing who's in charge.

When Granato played, he was a fiery, passionate forward — and that has carried over to his coaching as it has for Weight.

Another key factor in Granato’s hiring is his pride in American hockey. He’s a former U.S. junior player, U.S. Olympian, Canada Cup performer and a three-time participant for the USA at the world championships.

The Granato family is one of the most important families in American hockey history. Cammi Granato was a dominant women’s player and brother Don, now a Chicago Blackhawks assistant, is former coach of the U.S. National Team Development Program.

The Granatos take great pride in being American hockey participants, and so does the naming of Chelios, Young and Allain as assistants. Young is the Pittsburgh Penguins' director of player development, Chelios is a Red Wings assistant and Allain coaches at Yale.

Chelios was a volcanic American competitor even before they had the depth to be a consistent contender at international tournaments.

Chelios and Young are both former U.S. Olympians, and Allain has a long history of coaching in the U.S. program. Rolston spent seven seasons (2004-11) as head coach of the U.S. National Development Team.

Because the U.S. team will only come together for the Olympic Games, Granato will be with his Wisconsin team for most of the season. Some of the American Olympians will compete for the USA at the Deutschland Cup in November.

USA Hockey officials believe the American team will be a medal contender.

 

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