Team North America completes coaching staff
Todd McLellan will get familiar help when he leads Team North America behind the bench in next year's World Cup of Hockey.
The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced the rest of his coaching staff, and it includes San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer, Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper and Edmonton Oilers assistant coach Jay Woodcroft.
DeBoer and Woodcroft were on McLellan's staff when Canada won the gold medal at the 2015 world championships.
"Jon, Peter, Dave and Jay are great additions to our staff and their tremendous experience will go a long way in helping our young players have a successful tournament," Team North America general manager Peter Chiarelli said in a release.
According to a source, Cooper was a finalist for the head-coaching job of Team North America that went to McLellan.
The release also clarified that Chiarelli is the GM of the team and Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is the associate GM. They were originally named as co-GMs during the World Cup announcement.
The 2016 World Cup will be held in September in Toronto, with Team North America consisting of players age 23 and under as of Oct. 1, 2016.
