Mike Babcock to coach Team Canada at 2016 World Cup

Toronto coach, Mike Babcock, has been announced as the coach for Team Canada for the 2016 World Cup. 

Babcock is an experienced coach in the NHL but also on an international level. The 52-year-0ld coached Canada to back-to-back golds at the Olympics in Vancouver and Sochi. He also coached Canada to gold in the 2004 World Championships.

The former Detroit Red Wings coach is also the only coaching member to be part of the Triple Gold Club. The Triple Gold Club comprises of hockey players and staff who have won an Olympic Gold, a World Champion Gold, and a Stanley Cup. Mike Babcock coached Detroit Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup in 2008.

In his 10 seasons at Detroit, Babcock took the side to win 458 games out of 786. In the Canadians NHL coaching career (excluding this season), his teams have won a total of 527 games out of 950.

Babcock says it is a “huge honour” to be given the opportunity to represent his country.

 

The World Cup of Hockey is returning after over 10 years, the last time the event was held was 2004.

Canada will be joined by other teams such as: Finland, Russia, USA, Sweden, North America, Czech Republic and Europe.

North America will consist of players from both Canada and USA who are under 23. Team Europe will also contain players from the rest of Europe.

Edmonton Oilers coach, Todd McLellan, will coach Team North America. McLellan is currently Canada’s national team coach. In 2015, he took the team to win Gold  at the World Championships in the Czech Republic.

Team Europe will be coached by Ralph Krueger, former Edmonton Oiler’s coach and currently the chairman of Southampton Football Club.

The 17 day tournament will take place at the end of September 2016. The venue for the World Cup is the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.