June 12, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Ron Rolston (Ann Arbor, Mich.), currently one of two head coaches at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, will serve as head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2008 – Jan. 5, 2009, in Ottawa, Ontario, it was announced today by USA Hockey.

“We’re extremely pleased to have Ron Rolston lead our team in the World Junior Championship,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “He’s done an excellent job as a head coach at our National Team Development Program and is clearly the right person to coach our team in Ottawa.”

Rolston led the U.S. National Junior Team to the bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Leksand and Mora, Sweden. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Junior Team that placed fourth at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“Ron is an exceptional coach,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “He is very much in tune with both the talent pool in our country and what it takes to be successful in international competition.”

Rolston recently completed his fourth season with USA Hockey’s NTDP having served as the head coach for the U.S. National Under-17 Team. He led the squad to 30 wins and second-place finishes at the 2007 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, 2008 World Under-17 Challenge and the 2008 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament. Rolston’s successes in international competition also include, leading the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and the silver medal at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Prior to his tenure with USA Hockey’s NTDP, Rolston served as an assistant men’s ice hockey coach at Boston College (2002-04), Harvard University (1999-2002) and Clarkson University (1996-99). He also spent five years at Lake Superior State, four as assistant coach (1990-94) and one as associate head coach (1995). While at Lake Superior State, Rolston helped the Lakers capture NCAA titles in 1992 and 1994. He played college hockey at Michigan Tech University.

Joining Rolston behind the bench will be assistant coaches, Nate Leaman (Clifton Park, N.Y./Union College) and P.K. O’Handley (Waterloo, Iowa/Waterloo Black Hawks), and goalie coach Jeff Blashill (Indianapolis, Ind./Indiana Ice).

Leaman, an assistant coach of the bronze medal-winning 2007 U.S. National Junior Team, is the head coach of the Union College men’s ice hockey team of ECAC Hockey. He recently completed his fifth season behind the bench at Union. Leaman, with 72 victories, is the winningest head coach in Union’s Division I history. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Under-18 Team that won the gold medal at the 2005 World Under-18 Championship.

O’Handley, the head coach of the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League, will join the U.S. National Junior Team staff for the first time. In 2007-08, his sixth season as coach of the Black Hawks, he guided the squad to the Clark Cup Finals. Internationally, he most recently served as the head coach for the U.S. Junior Select Team that placed third at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge. In 2003, O’Handley was named the U.S. Olympic Committee Developmental Coach of the Year.

Blashill was recently named head coach and general manager of the USHL’s Indiana Ice. He spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach with the Miami (Ohio) University men’s ice hockey team of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Blashill worked extensively with the team’s goaltenders and served as Miami’s recruiting coordinator. Prior to his time at Miami, Blashill was an assistant at his alma mater, Ferris State University, also of the CCHA.

Rolston will lead the 2008 National Junior Evaluation Camp August 1-9 in Lake Placid, N.Y., as a part of the selection process for the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team. The final roster will be announced in early December 2008.

NOTES: Ron Rolston is a USA Hockey Level 5 certified coach, while Nate Leaman, P.K. O’Handley and Jeff Blashill are all USA Hockey Level 4 certified coaches … Ken Martel, manager of youth ice hockey for USA Hockey, will serve as the video coordinator for the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team … Mark Osiecki from the University of Wisconsin, Jay Varady from the Everett Silvertips and Mike Cavanaugh from Boston College, along with the coaching staff of the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team, will form the coaching staff for the 2008 National Junior Evaluation Camp … The U.S. has played for a medal in the World Junior Championship in each of the last six events.