Adhering to a philosophy of continuity, Hockey Canada has largely retained its coaching staff for the men`s hockey team competing at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics.
On Monday, Hockey Canada announced that head coach Jon Cooper will be joined by the same assistant coaches who served during the recent 4 Nations Face-Off. Bruce Cassidy, the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights; Peter DeBoer; and Rick Tocchet, head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, are all set to reprise their roles behind the bench. This seasoned group will guide the men`s team in their pursuit of an Olympic gold medal, a feat last achieved in 2014, which also marked the last time NHL players were permitted to participate.
“This highly skilled group of coaches brings impressive résumés to our staff,” stated Cooper in a release from Hockey Canada. “Their collective experience provides consistency and a proven track record of success to our team, and I am confident our players will greatly benefit from this world-class coaching staff. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with all seven as we aim to achieve similar success on the Olympic stage this February.”
The support staff will also see the return of Misha Donskov, formerly an assistant with the Dallas Stars, in his role as an assistant and strategic analyst. He will work alongside goaltending consultant David Alexander (St. Louis Blues), director of performance analysis James Emery, and video coordinator Elliott Mondou (also from the Blues).
Canada previously secured victory at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, defeating the U.S. in overtime with a winning goal from Connor McDavid. The men`s Olympic hockey tournament is scheduled to take place from February 11-22 in Milan, Italy.