USA Hockey announces management team for 2016 World Cup
By @MichaelCaples –
Today, USA Hockey announced the men responsible for building the U.S. roster for the latest edition of the World Cup of Hockey.
Dean Lombardi (Ludlow, Mass./Los Angeles Kings) will be the general manager of Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He has served as part of the U.S. Men’s National Advisory Group since 2009.
Paul Holmgren (St. Paul, Minn./Philadelphia Flyers) will be assistant GM, while Brian Burke (Edina, Minn./Calgary Flames) will be a senior advisor. Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo./USA Hockey) will be director of hockey operations for the team.
Lombardi said the management staff hopes to have a coach picked relatively soon, but did not reveal a timeline or a list of potential candidates.
“We’re thrilled to have Dean at the helm of managing our World Cup team,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, in a release. “He’s been an invaluable part of our men’s national team advisory group and obviously done a remarkable job in building the Kings. In addition, having the experience of Paul Holmgren, Brian Burke and Jim Johannson gives us an exceptional management team and a group we’re confident will put together a team that our country will be proud of.”
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will take place from Sept. 17 through Oct. 1 in Toronto. In addition to a U.S. team, the World Cup will feature teams from Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Team Europe and the North American Youngstars.
The North American Youngstars will be selecte from a pool of the best players in the U.S. and Canada ages 23 and under, which may limit options for Team USA.
All eight teams will be comprised of 23 players, including three goalies. Each team must announce at least 16 members of its roster, including two goaltenders, by March 1, 2016. A finalized roster must be announced by June 1, 2016.
The NHL and the NHLPA will work jointly to create the Team Europe and the North American Youngstars teams.
Team USA won the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996, while Canada won the 2004 edition.