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SHE SAID IT DON GRANATO, WHO HAS MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF COACHING EXPERIENCE ACROSS VIRTUALLY EVERY LEVEL OF THE GAME, has been named head coach of the 2026 U.S. Men's National Team that will compete in the 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship. The event is set for May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. The U.S. enters the World Championship as the defending gold medalist after winning its first gold in 92 years last year. Granato's impressive resume has included stints in the NHL, AHL and ECHL in professional hockey; at USA Hockey 's National Team Development Program; and in college hockey and also the USHL. He has also served as either head or assistant coach of six previous IIHF World Championships, including three IIHF Men's World Championships; one IIHF World Junior Championship; and two IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championships. Granato most recently served as head coach of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres from 2021-24 after coming to the club as an assis- tant coach in 2019-20 and then being named interim head coach on March 17, 2021. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as assistant coach of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and one season as associate head coach with the University of Wisconsin's men's hockey team. Granato served as a head coach at USA Hockey 's National Team Development Program from 2011-17 and during that time guided the NTDP's U.S. National Under-18 Team to a pair of champion- ships at the Under-18 Four Nations Tournament (2012, 2014) in addition to leading the U.S. National Under-17 Team to titles at the Four Nations Tournament (2013), World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (2013) and Under-17 Five Nations Tournament (2014). In 2012-13, Granato helped the U.S. National Under-18 Team register an 11-6-4 ( W-L-T) record against NCAA Division I and III schools, the best winning percentage (.619) against collegiate opponents in the history of the NTDP. The Downers Grove, Ill., native's career has also includ- ed stops as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues (2005-06) and head coach for the Chicago Wolves (2008- 10). Granato also served as head coach of the Worcester IceCats from 2000-2005, where he received the AHL's Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the league's most outstanding coach. He also coached three seasons in the ECHL with the Columbus Chill (1997-99) and Peoria Rivermen (1999-2000), following four seasons in the USHL with the Wisconsin Capitols (1993-94) and Green Bay Gamblers (1994-97). He led Peoria to the 2000 ECHL Kelly Cup championship and claimed the 1996 USHL Clark Cup championship with Green Bay. On the international stage, Granato has served as an assistant coach of a U.S. Men's National Team on three different occa- sions, including in 2022, 2018 ( bronze medal) and 2014. He also led the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team to gold (2015) and silver (2013) medal finishes at the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship as head coach, while also serving as an assistant coach for the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team. P O F F T HE D R AW TEAM USA Going For Gold With Granato Don Granato Named Head Coach Of 2026 U.S. Men's National Team "I'm honored to be asked to coach our men's national team," said Granato. "Anytime you have the opportunity to represent your country, it's incredibly meaningful. I'm excited to work with our players and staff in building a team that represents our country well and competes for a gold medal." WATCH ON INSTAGRAM! – Hilary Knight on the PWHL setting a U.S. attendance record for a professional women's hockey game with 18,006 fans at Madison Square Garden. Honestly, it's funny because people ask, 'are you surprised?' I'm not surprised that we sold out MSG. It's a testament to the caliber of play that we have, our fan base, the product that we put together, the work that we do when the lights aren't bright." 6 // APRIL 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Getty Images