Ex-Shark named USA’s Olympic men’s hockey coach

USA Hockey named former Sharks forward and current University of Wisconsin Head Coach Tony Granato the bench boss of the men’s Olympic team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Granato played for San Jose from 1996-2001, returning to hockey after suffering a serious brain injury while a member of the Los Angeles Kings. The Illinois native scored 40 points in 76 games in his first season in teal, appeared in that season’s All-Star game, and became the first Shark to win an individual award, winning that season’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Since retiring in 2001, Granato has coached the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings as an assistant. He was also Colorado’s Head Coach -from 2002-2004, and again during the 2008-09 season, amassing a 104-78-17-16 record in the NHL. Last year, the Wisconsin alum coached his first season at his alma mater, leading the Badgers to a 12-win turnaround and a second place finish in the Big Ten.

Yale University Head Coach Keith Allain, former Buffalo Sabres Head Coach Ron Rolston, Pittsburgh Penguins Director of Player Development Scott Young, and four-time Olympian Chris Chelios will fill out Granato’s staff in PyeongChang. The 2018 Winter Olympics will be the first not to include NHL players since 1994.