Mike Keenan is back behind the bench on the international stage
The first head coach ever to win both the Stanley Cup and the KHL's Gagarin Cup is headed back behind the bench. Mike Keenan, who hasn't been heard from for a while, has been hired as the head coach of Italy's National Men's Hockey Team. With Italy set to host the Winter Olympics in 2026, it seems the national hockey team is willing to do whatever it takes to be more competitive while acting as the host country.
Keenan is bringing with him former New York Rangers assistant coach Mike Pelino, who will serve as Italy's associate coach. Pelino has head coaching experience in the KHL.
"I have had many wonderful international experiences, but this for me is both a challenge and a unique opportunity," said Keenan in a new release from the team. "I find it exciting to be able to follow a process of building and developing a team ahead of an Olympics, plus as the host country: this experience will also give me the opportunity to learn about new and different facets of the game.
"I have coached Team Canada in the past and I am used to setting up competitive teams despite not being able to coach them day in and day out: I want my players to be able to excel, to have a desire for results, to be instilled with the idea of success, and to be able to compete under pressure."
Keenan doesn't have the best of reputations when it comes to being a head coach. His apparent inability to maintain positive relationships with players and team management has led to abrupt departures, often at very inopportune times. His last gig came as head coach of the KHL's Kunlun Red Star in 2017. Keenan left the team not far into the season following a poor start.
Keenan won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994, and was coach of Magnitogorsk Metallurg when the team won the Gagarin Cup in 2014. The only other coach to win both the Stanley Cup and Gagarin Cup is Bob Hartley.
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