Former NHL coach Ron Wilson takes over US Junior team
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AP) Former NHL coach Ron Wilson is taking over the United States Junior National team for next year's world championships.
Wilson was hired as the team's coach by USA Hockey on Thursday. His 648 wins split over 18 seasons with Toronto, San Jose, Washington and Anaheim rank eighth on the NHL coaching list.
The 60-year-old was born in Canada but grew up in Rhode Island, and has previous ties to USA Hockey. He coached the 2010 U.S. team that won the silver medal at the Vancouver Games.
Wilson has been out of coaching since being fired by the Maple Leafs in March 2012.
The U.S. has finished fifth in each of the past two world junior tournaments, and has not earned a medal since winning the tournament in 2013. The tournament will be in Helsinki, Finland, in the winter.
