Jon Cooper, the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, is set to lead Team Canada at the upcoming 4 Nations Faceoff and the 2026 Winter Olympics, as reported by TSN. This is a significant opportunity for Cooper, who hails from Prince George, British Columbia, as he will have the chance to coach his home country in the Olympics.
Originally, Cooper was named as Team Canada’s coach for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, but the NHL withdrew from the competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with the official announcement expected after the Stanley Cup Final, Cooper is gearing up to take on this new challenge.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Italy from Feb. 6-22, with games taking place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. In preparation for the Olympics, the NHL will host the 4 Nations Faceoff next season, featuring teams from the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland.
Notable players like Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos, and Brayden Point from the Lightning have been mentioned as potential participants in the 4 Nations Faceoff. The event will serve as a precursor to the Olympics and will be played from Feb. 12-20, 2025, in Montreal and Boston.
Cooper’s impressive coaching background includes multiple Stanley Cup final appearances and back-to-back wins in 2020 and 2021. He previously coached Team Canada in the 2017 World Championships, where they secured a silver medal, and served as an assistant coach for Canada’s 2016 World Cup of Hockey team.
With this new opportunity on the horizon, Cooper is set to make his mark on the international stage once again. Stay tuned for more updates on Team Canada and the upcoming 4 Nations Faceoff as we follow the journey of Jon Cooper and his team.
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