It is reported that USA Hockey will name Stan Bowman of the Chicago Blackhawks its general manager prior to the 2022 Winter Olympics. The appointment is expected to be made official later this week at a press conference. Bowman is one of the most successful general managers in the NHL over the past 10 years, so this looks like a strong move for the United States. TSN reported the expected move Monday evening.
USA Hockey expected to name Bowman GM of Olympic team.
MORE: https://t.co/OONYNHw18R pic.twitter.com/dNQI9lp0W8
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 30, 2021
UPDATE: Bowman has now officially been named the team’s general manager, per USA Hockey.
Introducing the first two members of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team! 🇺🇸
Full story: https://t.co/dR0oytqUeV#TeamUSA | #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/D2BaXVtr3T
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) March 31, 2021
USA Hockey to Name Stan Bowman General Manager For Olympics
This seems like a strong move for a U.S. team that has not challenged for an Olympic gold medal in Men’s Hockey since 2010. The Americans placed fourth in the 2014 Sochi Games, but fell to seventh at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. 2014 was the last Olympics with NHL skaters. It will be important to have an experienced hockey presence building a competitive roster with professionals returning to international play.
Stan Bowman is certainly one of the most notable options the U.S. could appoint. The 47-year-old has won three Stanley Cups since assuming the general manager role in 2009. His reputation as a hockey mind with relationships all over hockey will be invaluable in returning the United States to a place near the top of the international scene. Another Olympic failure will not be well-received among the nation’s hockey devotees.
Further Moves For U.S. Hockey
Bill Guerin will also be named as an assistant according to Frank Seravalli and TSN. The Minnesota Wild are having a strong year, so Guerin seems like another strong appointment. The next steps will be filling out more of the staff and then beginning the selection process for players. Canada and Russia are still international hockey titans, but the United States should be fine. The country’s governing body has poured too much money into development to fall short once more.
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