Mike Sullivan has been chosen as the coach for the U.S. team for the 2026 Milan Olympics, as expected. This decision puts the two-time Stanley Cup champion in charge of leading the American team in its quest for its first gold medal since the famous “Miracle On Ice” in 1980.
USA Hockey also revealed that Sullivan will lead the team for the Four Nations Face-Off tournament next year, scheduled for February 2025. This tournament, organized by the NHL, will serve as a precursor to the Olympics, providing a taste of international competition.
The Milan Olympics will mark the return of NHL players to the Games after they were absent for the past two editions.
“We’re thrilled to have Mike leading our teams,” said U.S. general manager Bill Guerin. “He is one of the top coaches in the game, and his experience, including in international hockey, will help position our team for success.”
Sullivan, who hails from Marshfield, Massachusetts, served as an assistant coach at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. He was also part of John Tortorella’s coaching staff for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
However, those previous international outings did not end well for the U.S., as they faced disappointing results. The team lost to Canada in the semifinals of the 2014 Sochi Olympics and then fell to Finland in the bronze-medal game.
The NHL is set to return to the Olympics in Milan in 2026 and then in France in 2030, following agreements between the league, Players’ Association, International Olympic Committee, and International Ice Hockey Federation.
This presents an opportunity for a new generation of American hockey stars, including Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy, and talented goaltenders, to showcase their skills on the global stage.
