COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud State University), who guided the U.S. National Junior Team to its fourth-ever gold medal at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto, Canada, will return as head coach for the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team, it was announced today by USA Hockey exclusively on NHL Network. USA Hockey also announced today that Motzko will be joined by the entire 2017 U.S. coaching staff in assistant coaches Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass./Boston College), Grant Potulny (Minneapolis, Minn./Northern Michigan University), Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, Pa./Providence College) and Steve Miller (Littleton, Colo./Air Force Academy).
“It’s terrific to have this staff return with Bob at the helm,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director for hockey operations at USA Hockey, who will also serve as general manager of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team. “We’re looking forward to having the tournament on our home soil and it will be a real benefit to have an experienced coaching staff lead us in our quest to repeat last year’s gold-medal performance.”
The 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship is set for Buffalo, New York, from Dec. 26, 2017 – Jan. 5, 2018, and will include the first ever outdoor game in tournament play when the United States takes on Canada at New Era Field on Dec. 29.
Motzko, who led the U.S. to a gold medal in his international head coaching debut, aims to lead the U.S. to back-to-back gold medal finishes for the first time ever.
“I’m deeply honored that USA Hockey has asked me and my staff to lead the United States in this event once again,” said Motzko. “While winning gold was special, the opportunity to win gold on home ice is even more enticing. We’re excited to work together again and begin our journey towards another gold medal at our National Junior Evaluation Camp in August.”
Head men’s ice hockey coach of his alma mater, St. Cloud State University, Motzko is representing the United States for a third time. In addition to his gold-medal head coaching performance last year, Motzko served as an assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden.
U.S. National Junior Team
Head Coaches & Results
IIHF World Junior Championship
Year Head Coach Record (Place)
2017 Bob Motzko 5-2-0-0* (1st)
2016 Ron Wilson 5-0-0-2* (3rd)
2015 Mark Osiecki 2-1-0-2* (5th)
2014 Don Lucia 3-0-0-2* (5th)
2013 Phil Housley 5-0-0-2* (1st)
2012 Dean Blais 4-0-3-0* (7th)
2011 Keith Allain 4-1-0-1* (3rd)
2010 Dean Blais 5-1-1-0* (1st)
2009 Ron Rolston 3-1-0-2* (5th)
2008 John Hynes 4-0-0-2* (4th)
2007 Ron Rolston 3-1-2-1* (3rd)
2006 Walt Kyle 3-3-1 (4th)
2005 Scott Sandelin 3-4-0 (4th)
2004 Mike Eaves 6-0-0 (1st)
2003 Lou Vairo 4-3-0 (4th)
2002 Keith Allain 4-1-2 (5th)
2001 Keith Allain 5-2-0 (5th)
2000 Jeff Jackson 2-3-2 (4th)
1999 Jeff Jackson 3-3-0 (8th)
1998 Jeff Jackson 4-3-0 (5th)
1997 Jeff Jackson 4-1-1 (2nd)
1996 Jack Parker 3-3-0 (5th)
1995 Jeff Jackson 3-4-0 (5th)
1994 Dean Blais 1-5-1 (6th)
1993 Walt Kyle 4-3-0 (4th)
1992 Walt Kyle 5-2-0 (3rd)
1991 Kevin Constantine 4-2-1 (4th)
1990 Steve Cedorchuk 1-6-0 (7th)
1989 Steve Cedorchuk 3-3-1 (5th)
1988 Terry Christensen 1-6-0 (6th)
1987 Dave Peterson 4-3-0 (4th)
1986 Dave Peterson 4-3-0 (3rd)
1985 Doug Woog 2-5-0 (6th)
1984 John Perpich 2-5-0 (6th)
1983 Bill Hasler 3-4-0 (5th)
1982 Lou Vairo 2-5-0 (6th)
1981 Lou Vairo 2-3-0 (6th)
1980 Lou Vairo 1-3-1 (7th)
1979 Lou Vairo 2-3-0 (6th)
1978 Len Lilyholm 4-2-0 (5th)
1977 Marshall Johnston 1-5-1 (7th)
* W-OTW-OTL-L
In his 12 seasons at the helm of St. Cloud State, the 2014 NCHC Coach of the Year and two-time WCHA Coach of the Year (2007, 2006), has produced seven 20 or more win seasons; seven NCAA tournament appearances; one NCAA Frozen Four appearance; two regular-season conference titles (one each: WCHA, NCHC); and one NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship. M
ABOUT BROWN
Brown, who served as an assistant coach with Motzko last year and also on the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team, will be behind the Team USA bench for the third time. A two-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992), Brown has spent the past 13 seasons with the Boston College men’s ice hockey program where he works closely with the team’s defensemen and special teams.
ABOUT POTULNY
Potulny will be serving on the staff of his third U.S. National Junior Team and seeking his third gold medal after helping Team USA claim one last year and also in 2013. Potulny, who was recently named head coach at Northern Michigan University, spent the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota men’s ice hockey program where he helped his alma mater claim six straight regular-season conference titles and reach two NCAA Frozen Fours.
ABOUT MAYOTTE
Mayotte will be a member of a U.S. national team coaching staff for the second time. An assistant coach with the Providence College men’s ice hockey program, Mayotte works with the goaltenders and penalty kill unit. His first season with the Friars in 2014-15 ended with the program’s first-ever NCAA national championship.
ABOUT MILLER
Miller will be an assistant coach for Team USA for the second time. Currently the director of hockey for Air Force Academy, Miller has been a part of three NCAA national championship staffs, including once with Providence College (2015) and twice with Denver (2004, 2005).
NOTES: NHL Network is the exclusive television home of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in the United States … Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.) is the first U.S. National Junior Team coach to coach in back-to-back IIHF World Junior Championships since Keith Allain did so in 2001 and 2002 … Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations, is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the ninth consecutive year … Approximately 40 players will attend the 2017 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, this August. Invitees to the camp will be announced in the coming months.
