Jon Cooper named head coach of Hockey Canada for Beijing Olympics

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will lead the Canadian men’s hockey team at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, Hockey Canada announced on Monday.

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy, Vegas Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer and New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz will join Cooper as the team’s assistant coaches for the 2022 Olympics.

“It is an honor to be entrusted with leading Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team next year in Beijing, and to be able to carry on the rich tradition of hockey excellence that is associated with Hockey Canada.” Cooper said in a statement. “I have many fond memories of the Olympics, from watching games as a young kid to thrilling gold medal victories, and I look forward to helping create lasting memories for Canadians across the country while our team competes for a gold medal.”

It will be Cooper’s first Olympic tournament as Team Canada’s head coach. He helped the Canadians win a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships where they lost to Sweden 2-1 in the gold medal game.

Cooper recently led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

(Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)