Scott Sandelin to Coach 2020 U.S. National Junior Team
Fresh off leading the UMD Bulldogs to back-to-back National Championships, head coach Scott Sandelin has been named the head coach of the 2020 U.S. National Junior Team. USA Hockey made the announcement today on the NHL Network.
According to their press release, the U.S. National Junior Team will take part in the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship December 26, 2019 – January 5, 2020, in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic. The United States will compete in Group B alongside host Czech Republic, Canada, Germany and Russia. Team USA and Group B will play preliminary round games in Ostrava, while Group A, which includes Finland, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Slovakia and Switzerland, will play its preliminary round games in Trinec.
Coach Sandelin has been a part of three previous U.S. National Junior Team coaching staffs, including as head coach in 2005 and as an assistant coach in both 2012 and for last year's silver medal-winning team.
The Hibbing native is a hot name in hockey right now, for obvious reasons. As he prepares for this challenge, it will be interesting to see if he returns once again to lead the UMD Bulldogs men's hockey team this fall or if an NHL or other opportunity makes him an offer he can't refuse.