COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that Bob Corkum (Salisbury, Mass.), former assistant coach of the New York Islanders, has been named head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2018 Four Nations Cup tournament, which will be held Nov. 6-10 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Joining him as assistant coaches will be Joel Johnson (White Bear Lake, Minn.), associate head women’s ice hockey coach at the University of Minnesota, and former NHL blueliner Brian Pothier (New Bedford, Mass.).
ABOUT CORKUM
Corkum is serving as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team for the first time. He served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-22 Women’s Select Team for the U-22 Series vs. Canada in Calgary this past August and helped lead the U.S. to a three-game sweep.
Corkum’s appointment to the U-22 select team staff marked his first coaching assignment for a U.S. team since leading the U.S. men into the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia, where the team finished second.
Corkum, who will serve as the U.S. Women’s National Team head coach for the duration of the 2018-19 season, also previously served as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders from 2014-2017. A 12-year NHL veteran, Corkum joined the Islanders organization in July 2013 after spending five seasons as an associate coach at his alma mater, the University of Maine. Among his accomplishments, he helped the Black Bears qualify for the NCAA tournament in 2012.
Corkum’s NHL playing career began with the Buffalo Sabres in 1990 after being selected by the Sabres in the 3rd round (47th overall) in the 1986 NHL Draft. The Salisbury, Mass., native also spent time with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Atlanta Thrashers.
Prior to playing in the NHL, Corkum played four years at the University of Maine. As a senior in 1989, he helped lead the Black Bears to a Hockey East championship and a second consecutive Frozen Four appearance.
ABOUT JOHNSON
Johnson, who recently led the U.S. Under-22 Women’s Select Team into the Under-22 Series vs. Canada as head coach alongside Corkum, will make his debut as assistant coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2018 Four Nations Cup. Johnson served as head coach for the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team from 2014-2017, helping the U.S. capture four consecutive gold medals at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship. Now in his 14th season on the University of Minnesota coaching staff, Johnson has helped the Golden Gophers claim six national titles (2000, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016). He previously spent six seasons coaching at Bethel University from 2004-10, including three years as the men’s hockey head coach.
ABOUT POTHIER
Pothier will be making his debut as a member of the coaching staff for the U.S. Women’s National Team, having recently served as a camp coach at both the 2018 USA Hockey Women’s National Festival in Lake Placid, N.Y., and the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Team Evaluation Camp in Biddeford, Maine. A former NHL defenseman and U.S. Men’s National Team alumnus (2007 IIHF Men’s World Championship), Pothier went undrafted in the NHL before signing with the Atlanta Thrashers in his senior year of college. He spent his first year in Orlando with Atlanta’s farm team, the Orlando Solar Bears and went on to win both the Turner Cup and Rookie of the Year and American-born Rookie of the Year honors in 2000-2001. Pothier also spent time with the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes organizations before retiring from hockey in 2012. Pothier now coaches all ages at Pothier Blueline Hockey in Rochester, Mass.
NOTES: The Four Nations Cup is an annual tournament that has been held in varying forms since 1996 (previously the Three Nations Cup). The U.S. will compete against Canada, Sweden and Finland in this year’s tournament. The U.S. has captured the Four Nations Cup title eight times (1997, 2003, 2008, 2011-12, 2015-17), finished second 12 times and third in the 2013 tournament. The U.S. holds an overall record of 51-5-5-23-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) in 86 Three/Four Nations Cup games … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams.
