BROOKLYN (January 15, 2016) – New York Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano has been named an Assistant Coach of Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, it was announced today by USA Hockey.
Capuano, now in his sixth season as Head Coach with the Islanders, ranks second in franchise history with 189 coaching wins (Al Arbour – 740) and 403 games coached (Arbour – 1,500). The Cranston, RI, native will represent the United States for the second time in his career; he served as the Head Coach of the 2005 U.S. Under-18 Select Team at the Five Nations Cup in Slovakia, coaching current NHL players Kyle Okposo and Max Pacioretty.
Through 44 games this season (2015-16), Capuano has led the Islanders to a 24-15-5 record, good for 53 points and currently sit tied-for-third overall in the Eastern Conference. On Thursday, Jan. 7, Capuano coached in his 400th career NHL game against the Washington Capitals. Last season (2014-15), Capuano led the club to their most wins (47) and points (101) since 1983-84, earning the team’s second playoff berth under Capuano. In 2012-13, he led the Islanders to their first winning record and first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance since the 2006-07 season. The club set a franchise record with a .667 road-winning percentage and posted an 11-2-4 record in their final 17 games to clinch the playoff berth.
Capuano first joined the Islanders in 2005-06 as an Assistant Coach. He served as an Associate Coach with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers before being officially named the Head Coach the following season. Over four seasons as Head Coach with the Sound Tigers, Capuano finished with a 133-100-8-14 overall record. During the 2008-09 season, he led the Sound Tigers to a franchise record 49 wins.
Capuano began his coaching career in 1995 as an Assistant Coach with the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks of the ECHL after ending a playing career that included stints with Boston, Vancouver and Toronto of the NHL and Maine, Newmarket and Springfield of the AHL and Milwaukee of the IHL.
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey is set for Sept. 17 – Oct. 1 in Toronto, ON. In addition to the U.S., the eight teams participating in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey will include Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Team Europe and Team North America. The World Cup of Hockey has been conducted on two previous occasions, with the U.S. winning the first tournament in 1996 and Canada taking the title in 2004.
