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Matt Smaby

Matt Smaby, current head coach of the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks, will serve as head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team for the second-straight year in 2024. He will lead the program at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alberta. 

Smaby previously led the U.S. Junior Select Team as head coach at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia. Team USA finished the preliminary round undefeated and took third at the event. He was also an assistant coach for the 2022 team that took first place at the 2022 World Junior A Challenge. 

The Minnesota native took the helm as head coach of the Waterloo Black Hawks prior to the 2021-22 season. He has led the program to Clark Cup Playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons. He has amassed a USHL regular-season record of 103-76-4-3 (W-L-OTL-SOL) through the start of the 2024-25 season. 

Smaby was selected 41st overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He skated three seasons (2003-06) for the University of North Dakota men’s ice hockey team and served as captain his junior season. He then embarked on a professional career (2006-17), including parts of four seasons with the Lightning in the NHL, in the AHL, and with Munich in the DEL.