COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that Robb Stauber (Medina, Minn.) has been named head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship. The event will take place at USA Hockey arena in Plymouth, Michigan from March 31-April 7. The U.S. coaching staff includes Associate Coach Brett Strot (Tampa, Fla.), Assistant Coaches Paul Mara (Belmont, Mass.) and Chris Tamer (Dexter, Mich.) and Goaltending Coach Mike Richter (Abington, Pa.).
“We look forward to having Robb continue leading our team at the world championship,” said Reagan Carey, director of women’s hockey at USA Hockey. “We have a strong coaching staff overall and I know everyone is excited about the challenge ahead, particularly the chance to defend our gold medal on home ice.”
The tournament marks the fifth time Stauber has been on the coaching staff for Team USA at the world championship and the first time as head coach at this event.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity and continue what we’ve all been working toward with a talented group of players,” said Stauber. “It’s a great honor to represent USA Hockey in this capacity and defend our gold medal from the past few years.”
ABOUT STAUBER
Stauber previously served as head coach of Team USA for a pair of games against Canada in December 2016, including the Team USA Winter Champions Series contest played at USA Hockey Arena. He also served in that capacity for the 2016 USA Hockey Winter Camp from December 12-16, 2016, and the National Team Training Camp from February 28-March 2, 2017.
An assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team in Sochi, Russia, Stauber has been involved with the U.S. Women’s National Team since 2010 in a variety of roles, including coaching, scouting and development of goaltenders.
Stauber has served on the U.S. Women’s National Team coaching staff at the IIHF Women’s World Championship four times (2011-13, 2015) and the Four Nations Cup six times (2011-16). He has also been a part of the staff for the U.S. Women’s Under-22 Select Team at the Under-22 Series vs. Canada four times (2012, 2014-16).
Stauber served as head coach for the Minnesota Whitecaps, an independent professional women’s team, during the 2015-16 season.
A native of Medina, Minn., Stauber played 10 years of professional hockey, including four seasons in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres. He also spent time in the IHL and AHL.
At the University of Minnesota, he was the first goaltender to win the Hobey Baker Award (1988). He was also the recipient that year of the WCHA Player of the Year award and was named All-WCHA First Team and All-America First Team. Additionally, Stauber was recognized as WCHA Goaltender of the Year in 1988 and 1989. He represented the U.S. at the 1987 IIHF World Junior Championship and 1989 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Stauber served as the goalie coach for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team from 2000-2008, helping the team win national championships in 2002 and 2003. He served in the same capacity for the University of Minnesota Duluth’s women’s hockey team from 2004-08, during which time the Bulldogs earned a national title in 2008.
NOTES: The roster for the 2017 U.S. Women’s National Team that will compete in the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship will be announced tomorrow (Mar. 7). .. Reagan Carey (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey’s director of women’s hockey, is the general manager of the 2017 U.S. Women’s National Team … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … The U.S. has won the last three IIHF Women’s World Championships and has played Canada in the gold medal game in all 17 of the previous events, capturing the top prize a total of seven times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016), including six of the last seven tournaments … Team USA is 67-3-6-8-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) in 85 career games and has outscored its opponents 565-130.
