COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Dean Lombardi (Ludlow, Mass.), president and general manager of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, has been named general manager of Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey it was announced today by USA Hockey. Lombardi has guided the Kings to a pair of Stanley Cup titles in the last four seasons and has served as part of the U.S. Men’s National Advisory Group since 2009.
In addition, Paul Holmgren (St. Paul, Minn.), president of Philadelphia Flyers, has been named assistant general manager; Brian Burke (Edina, Minn.), president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames, senior advisor; and Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), assistant executive director of USA Hockey, director of hockey operations.
“We’re thrilled to have Dean at the helm of managing our World Cup team,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “He’s been an invaluable part of our men’s national team advisory group and obviously done a remarkable job in building the Kings. In addition, having the experience of Paul Holmgren, Brian Burke and Jim Johannson gives us an exceptional management team and a group we’re confident will put together a team that our country will be proud of.”
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey is set for Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto. Additional details, including camp locations, will be released in the coming months.
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 the North American Youngstars.
Team Europe will be comprised of a pan-European roster of players from countries outside of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden – in short, all of the other European countries who are developing hockey players in ever-increasing numbers. Countries such as Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Belarus, Estonia, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and Lithuania (among others) will all be eligible for representation on Team Europe.
The players for the North American Youngstars will be selected from a pool of the best hockey players from Canada and the United States age 23 and under.
All eight teams will be comprised of 23 players, including three goalies. Each national association has the right to select its own team and must announce at least 16 members of its roster, including at least two goalies, no later than March 1, 2016, with the balance of each team’s roster to be announced no later than June 1, 2016.
To select the rosters of Team Europe and the North American Youngstars, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) will jointly name each of the management teams.
The World Cup of Hockey has been conducted on two previous occasions, with the U.S. winning the first edition in 1996 and Canada taking the title in 2004.
The World Cup of Hockey is a joint effort of the NHLPA and the NHL, in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and its member federations.
ABOUT LOMBARDI
Part of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group since 2009, Dean Lombardi has helped build the NHL’s L.A. Kings into a perennial power, including Stanley Cup titles in both 2012 and 2014.
Lombardi has been involved in a management capacity in the NHL for parts of the last four decades. He joined the Kings as president and GM in 2006-07 and since 2008-09, L.A. has been in the Stanley Cup playoffs all but one season.
Prior to coming to L.A., Lombardi spent two seasons as a professional scout for the Philadelphia Flyers (2003-04, 2005-06) and 13 years as a member of the San Jose Sharks front office staff (1990-2003). With the Sharks, including the last seven years as the team’s general manager, Lombardi helped build the team into a perennial playoff contender, highlighted by two trips to the Western Conference semifinals – and one Pacific Division title in 2002 after his club earned a franchise-record 99 points. The Lombardi-led Sharks in 2002 also tied an NHL-record with six consecutive seasons of improved point totals.
Lombardi also served as the assistant general manager of the Minnesota North Stars from 1988-90.
ABOUT HOLMGREN
Widely involved with USA Hockey since the 1970s, Paul Holmgren is currently the president of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, a position he’s held since May of 2014.
Holmgren served on the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group from 2009-14 and was the assistant general manager of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. In addition, he served as the general manager of the 2006 U.S. Men’s National Team and was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
As a player, Holmgren competed for the U.S. at the 1974 IIHF World Junior Championship and was invited to play on Team USA for the 1981 Canada Cup, but could not due to injury.
Holmgren played 10 seasons for the Flyers and the Minnesota North Stars. He went on to serve as assistant coach, head coach, assistant general manager, and general manger of the Flyers before assuming his current position as president. Holmgren received the Lester Patrick Trophy in 2014.
ABOUT BURKE
Brian Burke, who helped form and served on the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group from 2007-14, has been actively involved with USA Hockey throughout his career.
Most recently, Burke served as the director of player personnel for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. Burke was the general manager of the silver medal-winning 2010 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and in 2013 helped assemble the U.S. Men’s National Team that captured the bronze medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship.
In addition, Burke has served as general manager for the U.S. Men’s National Team on three occasions (2010, 2009, 1993).
Burke, who received the Lester Patrick Trophy in 2008, has been president of hockey operations for the NHL’s Calgary Flames since September 2013. His career has also included stints as president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs; executive vice president and general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, where he led the team to its first Stanley Cup in 2007; president and general manager of the Vancouver Cancucks; and senior vice president and director of hockey operations for the NHL.
ABOUT JOHANNSON
Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, has been a visible and important administrator on the international stage for USA Hockey for the last two decades.
He has been involved in management roles with the last four U.S. Olympic Teams, including the silver medal-winning squads in 2010 and 2002. He also was a player on both the 1988 and 1992 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Teams.
Johannson has also been on the staff of 17 straight U.S. Men’s National Teams and has played a role with the last 14 U.S. National Junior Teams, with 2016 being his seventh straight year as the team’s general manager.
Johannson joined USA Hockey on September 1, 2000, as manager of international activities and U.S. Olympic Committee relations. He was promoted to senior director of hockey operations, a newly created position, on August 5, 2003. On June 25, 2007, Johannson was elevated to assistant executive director of hockey operations.
