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// AUGUST 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM
PHOTOS BY Getty Images; Images On Ice
M
i k e S u l l i v a n i s n o st r a n g e r t o p r e s s u r e . A s t h e
head coach of the two-time Stanley Cup champi-
on Pittsburgh Penguins, the Marshfield, Mass.,
native deals with great expectations every day in the
Steel City.
So when USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher introduced
Sullivan as the head coach for the U.S. Men's Olympic Team, along with
Joel Johnson as the head coach of the U.S. Women's Olympic Team and
David Hoff as the head coach of the U.S. Paralympic Sled Team, he set
the bar high heading to Beijing next February.
"We've said all along that our objective is to bring home three gold
medals, and with the experience and leadership possessed by Mike,
Joel and David, we know our teams are in good hands," Kelleher said.
It's a tough challenge but one that all three readily accept.
"The expectation is to win gold," said Sullivan, who was an assistant
coach on the 2006 U.S. squad that competed in Torino, Italy. "When
you look at the player pool that we have in the United States today, it's
as deep as it's ever been. And I think that's a bold statement when you
consider some of the great American-born players."
Before they can get to that point, there are still some hurdles to over-
come as the NHL and the International Olympic Committee continue
Beijing
Bound
U.S. Olympic And Paralympic Team
Coaches Are All In To Bring Home
The Gold
OLYMPICS
By Harry Thompson
k
Mike Sullivan will be the
fourth Massachusetts native to
coach a U.S. Men's Olympic Team
when the puck drops on the 2022
Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
