Bob Motzko To Return as U.S. National Junior Team Head Coach

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 ChampionshipYearHead CoachRecord (Place)2017Bob Motzko5-2-0-0* (1st)2016Ron Wilson5-0-0-2* (3rd)2015Mark Osiecki2-1-0-2* (5th)2014Don Lucia3-0-0-2* (5th)2013Phil Housley5-0-0-2* (1st)2012Dean Blais4-0-3-0* (7th)2011Keith Allain4-1-0-1* (3rd)2010Dean Blais5-1-1-0* (1st)2009Ron Rolston3-1-0-2* (5th)2008John Hynes4-0-0-2* (4th)2007Ron Rolston3-1-2-1* (3rd)2006Walt Kyle3-3-1 (4th)2005Scott Sandelin3-4-0 (4th)2004Mike Eaves6-0-0 (1st)2003Lou Vairo4-3-0 (4th)2002Keith Allain4-1-2 (5th)2001Keith Allain5-2-0 (5th)2000Jeff Jackson2-3-2 (4th)1999Jeff Jackson3-3-0 (8th)1998Jeff Jackson4-3-0 (5th)1997Jeff Jackson4-1-1 (2nd)1996Jack Parker3-3-0 (5th)1995Jeff Jackson3-4-0 (5th)1994Dean Blais1-5-1 (6th)1993Walt Kyle4-3-0 (4th)1992Walt Kyle5-2-0 (3rd)1991Kevin Constantine4-2-1 (4th)1990Steve Cedorchuk1-6-0 (7th)1989Steve Cedorchuk3-3-1 (5th)1988Terry Christensen1-6-0 (6th)1987Dave Peterson4-3-0 (4th)1986Dave Peterson4-3-0 (3rd)1985Doug Woog2-5-0 (6th)1984John Perpich2-5-0 (6th)1983Bill Hasler3-4-0 (5th)1982Lou Vairo2-5-0 (6th)1981Lou Vairo2-3-0 (6th)1980Lou Vairo1-3-1 (7th)1979Lou Vairo2-3-0 (6th)1978Len Lilyholm4-2-0 (5th)1977Marshall Johnston1-5-1 (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.