Congratulations to Kevin Dineen, Head Coach of Team Canada Women's Hockey for the remainder of the 2013-14 season, including the 2014 Olympic Winter Games! Top Ten Reasons Why Kevin Dineen Will Lead Team Canada Women's Hockey to Victory in the 2014 Sochi Olympics According to Whom You Know
Oh Canada, you are not our home and native land but you have made the best decision ever in hiring our friend Kevin! Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that Kevin Dineen has been named head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team for the remainder of the 2013-14 season, including the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Though Whom You Know is immensely patriotic, you should know that Peachy's hands have been clapping for Kevin's awesome hockey abilities before they were ever tapping away at a computer keyboard.
Kevin Dineen, 50, was most recently head coach of the NHL’s Florida Panthers for parts of three seasons (2011-13), leading the Panthers to the first Southeast Division title in franchise history in 2011-12. He was also head coach of the AHL’s Portland Pirates for six seasons (2005-11), winning the AHL’s coach of the year award in 2005-06. As a player, the Toronto, Ont., native represented Canada on six occasions, winning a silver medal at the IIHF World Championship in 1985 and 1989, and winning the Canada Cup in 1987. He also played in the world championship in 1987 and 1993, and at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games.
“We’re very excited that Kevin will join the coaching staff of Canada’s National Women’s Team and bring his unique perspective to the dressing room,” said Scott Smith, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer. “Kevin has had success in both the AHL and NHL, and we’re looking forward to him being a part of the staff for the final push towards Sochi.”
“This is a critical time for Canada’s National Women’s Team with the start of the Olympics less than two months away, and we feel Kevin is a terrific fit with our staff as we get ready for Sochi,” said Melody Davidson, general manager of female national teams with Hockey Canada. “His experience, both on the ice and behind the bench, will be invaluable over the coming weeks.”
Dineen will work with assistant coaches Danielle Goyette and Lisa Haley, along with Davidson, to finalize Canada’s roster for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games over the coming weeks.
Twenty-four players remain in centralization – three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 14 forwards. Canada’s final roster for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games will include 21 players, including three goaltenders.
Canada’s National Women’s Team has a schedule of Midget Series and international games over the coming months, leading up to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, which begin Feb. 6 in Sochi, Russia. Canada opens its Olympic schedule February 8th against Switzerland.
For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/nwt, and follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_women.
To follow up on our last Top Ten List, here's a new one.
Top Ten Reasons Why Kevin Dineen Will Lead Team Canada Women's Hockey to Victory in the 2014 Sochi Olympics:
1. Everyone knows that hockey is the national sport in Canada and Kevin always played hockey and won the Canada Cup in 1987
2. Even Santa wears red and white, their team colors, so Santa himself could be on Team Canada. When you're living at the North Pole, Canada is the home team, n'est pas?
3. We told you Kevin was determined and talented-not much time went by without him holding a head coaching job
4. Kevin played for Team Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games
5. God keeps their land glorious and free so they can devote time to strategic game planning
6. People in Canada know more about hockey than people in Florida overall
7. In standing on guard for thee, these girls will be smart to stay out of the penalty box
8. In 1985 and in 1989, Kevin won silver in the IIHF World Hockey Championship
9. Kevin knows how to orchestrate goal scoring as evidenced by the success of the FTD line
10. Of course, anything boys can do girls can do better, and that includes being coached in the sport of hockey! And playing it.
Previous coverage of Kevin Dineen on Whom You Know:
In case you care what the boys are doing, NHL Players from various countries talking about the 2014 Sochi Olympics included in our NHL Season Kickoff:
