Allain named coach of 2011 Junior Team

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –Keith Allain (Worcester, Mass.), one of the most experienced and successful coaches in the United States, was today named the head coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team. The appointment marks Allain's third stint as head coach of a U.S. National Junior Team, having taken on the role in 2001 and 2002.

"It is a great honor to be chosen to coach this team," said Allain. "Every time you get to represent your country, it's a terrific experience. The chance to do so in front of our home fans will make this occasion even more special."

The U.S. National Junior Team will take part in the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2010 - Jan. 5, 2011 in Buffalo, N.Y. The U.S. will be aiming for its second consecutive title, having won the gold medal last year at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask.

Allain owns a 9-3-2 overall record as a head coach in the event, giving him the top winning percentage (.714) of any U.S. head coach to have served on multiple teams. He was also an assistant coach on the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team, and served as an advance scout for the 2000 U.S. squad.

In addition to his U.S. National Junior Team experience, Allain has served as an assistant coach on two U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Teams (1992, 2006) and two U.S. Men's National Teams (2005, 2006). He also served as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 1996 U.S. World Cup of Hockey squad and was the goalie coach for the 2004 U.S. World Cup of Hockey Team.

"Keith has a wealth of experience, including at the international level, and we're really pleased that he's agreed to lead our team in Buffalo," said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, who will also serve as general manager of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team. "He knows how to get the most out of players and has proven that at every level of hockey."

Allain currently serves as head coach of the Yale University men's ice hockey team, a position he has held since April 2006. During that time he has led the Bulldogs to three Ivy League titles, two ECAC Hockey regular-season championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Under Allain, the Bulldogs have won 20 or more games in each of the last two seasons, the first time that has happened in Yale history.

A former starting goaltender for Yale, Allain began his coaching career following a two-year (1980-82) stint playing professional hockey in Sweden. He served as an assistant coach for Yale from 1982-85 before returning to Sweden to coach and serve as a scout for the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals. Allain served as an assistant coach for the Capitals from 1993-97, and helped Jim Carey win the 1996 Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender. He went on to be the goalie coach for the NHL's St. Louis Blues from 1998-2006 before arriving at Yale.

Osiecki, Housley, Exter to Serve as Assistant Coaches

Joining Allain on the coaching staff will be assistant coaches Mark Osiecki, Phil Housley and Joe Exter. Osiecki and Exter will be serving as assistant coaches for the U.S. National Junior Team for the second straight year, while Housley returns to the staff of a U.S. National Junior Team after serving as an assistant for the first time in 2008.

Along with helping the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team to a gold medal, Osiecki's USA Hockey coaching experience includes two stints with the U.S. National Under-18 Team, serving as a head coach at the 1999 IIHF World Men's Under-18 Championship in Slovakia and an assistant coach the following year in the Czech Republic. He also led the U.S. Junior Select Team to a gold medal as a head coach at the 1998 Freedom Challenge in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Osiecki is entering his first season as the head coach of The Ohio State University men's ice hockey team after six seasons as an assistant men's ice hockey coach at the University of Wisconsin. Last year, he helped lead the Badgers to the NCAA Division I championship game.

Housley, a mainstay as a player for U.S. teams, will be making his second appearance as a coach for the U.S. National Junior Team. He was a seven-time member of the U.S. Men’s National Team (1982, 1986, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2003) and earned a silver medal with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, he was a member of the 1982 U.S. National Junior Team.

A winner of USA Hockey's Bob Johnson Award in 2000 for excellence in international competition, Housley was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004 following his 21-year career in the National Hockey League. A first-round draft pick (sixth overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 1982, he spent the first eight years (1982-90) of his career there and, in 2007, was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame. Housley will begin his seventh season as head coach of the Stillwater (Minn.) High School boys ice hockey team later this year.

Exter worked with Osiecki on the coaching staff of last year's gold medal-winning U.S. National Junior Team in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask. He also recently completed his third season as USA Hockey's first-ever full-time goaltending coach with the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Johannson to Serve as General Manager of Team; Taylor as Director of Player Personnel

Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey, will serve as the general manager of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team and Tim Taylor, head coach of the 1994 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, will serve as the team's director of player personnel. Both will be serving in their respective capacities for the second consecutive year.

A two time Olympian (1988, 1992), Johannson brings extensive experience in international ice hockey both as a player and administrator. A full-time employee of USA Hockey since 2000, he will be working with his 11th U.S. National Junior Team. Johannson served as general manager of the gold medal-winning 2010 U.S. National Junior Team and was the team leader for the gold medal-winning 2004 squad. He was also the lead administrator in hosting the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, N.D., and Thief River Falls, Minn. In addition, Johannson was part of the management team for the 2010 silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. He is ranked among the top 50 in The Hockey News' most recent list of 100 People of Power and Influence in hockey.

Taylor has enjoyed a long history with USA Hockey. He served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games. In addition, he was the head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team from 1989-92 and an assistant for the team twice (1981, 1983). Most recently, Taylor spent two years as an assistant coach (2007-09) with the USA Hockey's NTDP, and served as the gold medal-winning 2010 U.S. National Junior Team's director of player personnel. He also coached the Yale University men's ice hockey team for 28 seasons (1976-83/1984-93/1994-2006).


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)