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Johnson, Pothier and Thompson Named To Coaching Staff for 2019 U.S. Women's National Team

By USA Hockey, 01/30/19, 11:15AM EST

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Support Staff Also Named Ahead of the 2019 Rivalry Series

Joel Johnson (White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Brian Pothier (New Bedford, Mass.) have been named assistant coaches, and Steve Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska) has been named goaltending coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team that will compete in the 2019 Rivalry Series against Canada Feb. 12-17 in London and Toronto, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, as well as the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship April 4-14 in Espoo, Finland. Bob Corkum (Salisbury, Mass.) was previously named head coach of the team. 

Feb. 17 Tickets


ABOUT JOHNSON

Johnson recently served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team as it won four games in five days en route to its fourth consecutive tournament championship at the 2018 Four Nations Cup in November, marking his first appearance behind the bench for the team in international play. Previously, he led the U.S. Under-22 Women's Select Team to a three-game sweep at the Under-22 Series vs. Canada, serving as head coach alongside Corkum. Johnson also served as head coach for the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team from 2015-2018, helping the U.S. capture four consecutive gold medals at the IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship, and in addition, has coached at numerous USA Hockey evaluation and training camps over the past five years. Now in his 14th season on the University of Minnesota coaching staff, Johnson has helped the Golden Gophers claim six national titles (2000, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016). He previously spent six seasons coaching at Bethel University from 2004-10, including three years as the men's hockey head coach. 

ABOUT POTHIER

Pothier receives his second coaching assignment with the U.S. Women's National Team after serving as an assistant coach during the 2018 Four Nations Cup. Pothier, alongside Corkum and Johnson, has served as a camp coach at the 2018 USA Hockey Women's Winter Training Camp in Plymouth, Mich., the U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp in Biddeford, Maine, and the USA Hockey Women's National Festival in Lake Placid, N.Y. A former NHL defenseman and U.S. Men's National Team alumnus (2007 IIHF Men's World Championship), Pothier went undrafted in the NHL before signing with the Atlanta Thrashers in his senior year of college. He spent his first year in Orlando with Atlanta's farm team, the Orlando Solar Bears and went on to win both the Turner Cup and Rookie of the Year and American-born Rookie of the Year honors in 2000-2001. Pothier also spent time with the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes organizations before retiring from hockey in 2012. Pothier now coaches all ages at Pothier Blueline Hockey in Rochester, Mass. 

ABOUT THOMPSON

Thompson is also making his second appearance as a coach with the U.S. Women's National Team after having been a member of the staff at the 2018 Four Nations Cup. Recently, he served as goaltending coach during the 2018 USA Hockey Women's Winter Training Camp in Plymouth, Mich. He has spent two years with USA Hockey as the Pacific District Associate Coach-in-Chief/Goaltending. The founder and head instructor at Alaska Goaltending Academy, LLC, Thompson played two seasons with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers before graduating from University of Alaska Nanooks and moving on to coach at University of Alaska Anchorage where he spent two seasons as the team's goaltending/strength and conditioning coach. 

USA Hockey also announced today the full staff that will support the U.S. Women's National Team during the 2019 Rivalry Series, led by John Vanbiesbrouck (Detroit, Mich.), USA Hockey assistant executive director of hockey operations. The support staff includes equipment manager Scott Aldrich (Colorado Springs, Colo.), sports dietician Carrie Aprik (Royal Oak, Mich.), massage therapist Jennifer Chee (Colorado Springs, Colo.), video coordinator Emily Engel (Fort Collins, Colo.), sports dietician Shelly Guzman (Seattle, Wash.), team doctor Ally Howe (Portland, Maine), strength and conditioning coach Connor Lyons (Tampa, Fla.), communications manager Andrea Mazzarelli (Revere, Mass.), athletic trainer Sheri Walters (Wapanucka, Okla.), and ADM managers for female hockey Emily West (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Kristen Wright (Colorado Springs, Colo.). For the full staff roster, please click here


Series Results

Date Opponent Location City RESULTS Stats Television
Tuesday, Feb. 12 Canada Budweiser Gardens London, Ont. W, 1-0 Stats NHL Network
Thursday, Feb. 14 Canada Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ont. L, 3-4 Stats NHL Network
Sunday, Feb. 17 Canada Little Caesars Arena Detroit, Mich. L, 0-2 Stats NHL Network

NOTES: Media wishing to cover the Feb. 17 USA vs. Canada contest should complete the online credential form by Friday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m. ET. ... For more information on the 2019 Rivalry Series, including how to purchase tickets, please click here... USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams. 

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