As rumoured yesterday and confirmed this morning in a conference call with reporters, Ron Wilson has been named Head Coach of the U20 team that USA Hockey will send to Helsinki for the 2016 World Jr Hockey Championships. Wilson has international coaching experience already, he won Bronze in the 1996 World Championships, Gold at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, lost in the quarter finals of the 1998 Winter Olympics, and won Silver with Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Ron Wilson becomes only the second coach to lead a team at the Olympics, Men's World Championship and World Junior Championship. (Vairo)
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 4, 2015 His time with the Maple Leafs spanned 2008-2012 where he finished last or second last in the division every year, being fired 64 games into the 11/12 season (leading some to now believe the phrase 'Be careful what you wish for'). His record with the Leafs was 130-135-45 and his overall NHL totals (also with the Mighty Ducks, Capitals, Sharks) was 648-561-101-91. He took the Capitals to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998 which gave us the infamous "HANTA YO!"
His time with the Leafs was short, and he was known to be gruff with the Media, and on a tour of the ACC my wife and I were quickly moved to the side of the concourse since "Ron was coming and he doesn't look happy". However he did have a good (brief) time on twitter, such as announcing his contract extension on Christmas Day 2011 (now deleted)
@coachrw63 "He came! He came!" Remember saying that as a little kid: Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun & a contract extension!
And sharing this image (also now deleted)
How his Team USA will fare with several years off without being behind the bench is unknown, but they will have superstar Austin Matthews leading the way and maybe Jack Eichel if the Sabres are feeling generous. His choices of assistant coaches will also play a big role. Can they defeat Team Canada now that it's re-acquired a taste for gold? Maybe, if Hockey Canada keeps chugging along as usual.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I have no idea who some of the players are, I've heard their names, so it's wide open," Ron Wilson with a dose of honesty.</p>— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrismpeters/status/606463128398725120">June 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Below you can find PPP's reactions to Ron Wilson's firing, summarizing his time with Toronto.
PPP Podcast 16: Ron Wilson Got Canned - Pension Plan Puppets
Goodbye Ron Wilson - Pension Plan Puppets
Ron Wilson Fired As Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach - Pension Plan Puppets
Randy Carlyle Coaching Myths Part Two: Carlyle vs. Wilson - Pension Plan Puppets
Would Julie Kotter throw out Ron Wilson? - Pension Plan Puppets
In Which Ron Wilson Trolls Damien Cox - Pension Plan Puppets
Toronto Maple Leafs WOWYs: Randy Carlyle Edition - Pension Plan Puppets