Adopting the philosophy of “if it ain`t broke, don`t fix it,” Hockey Canada has officially finalized its men`s hockey coaching staff for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. The nation`s hockey governing body announced Monday that the same assistant coaches who contributed to Canada`s success at the recent 4 Nations Face-Off will reunite under head coach Jon Cooper for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Bruce Cassidy, current head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights; Peter DeBoer; and Rick Tocchet, head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, are all confirmed to be behind the bench. This seasoned coaching group will guide the Canadian men`s team as they aim to secure their first Olympic gold medal since 2014, which notably marked the last participation of NHL players in the Games.
In a statement, Jon Cooper expressed his confidence in the team, praising them as a “highly skilled group of coaches that bring impressive résumés to our staff.” He added, “This group of coaches will provide consistency and a winning pedigree to our team, and I know our players will greatly benefit from this world-class coaching staff. I look forward to working alongside all seven as we look to replicate our 4 Nations success on the Olympic stage in February.”
Further bolstering the staff, former Dallas Stars assistant coach Misha Donskov will reprise his crucial role as an assistant and “eye-in-the-sky.” He will be joined by goaltending consultant David Alexander (St. Louis Blues), director of performance analysis James Emery, and video coordinator Elliott Mondou (also from the Blues), forming a comprehensive support team.
Canada recently triumphed at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, securing an overtime victory against the U.S. thanks to a decisive winning goal scored by superstar Connor McDavid. This success sets a promising precedent for their Olympic aspirations.
The men`s Olympic hockey tournament is scheduled to take place from February 11-22 in Milan, Italy, where Canada hopes to continue its winning momentum on the international stage.
