Following the completion of his ninth season as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mike Sullivan has been appointed to lead the United States at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. With two Stanley Cup victories to his name, Sullivan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to coach the national team at these esteemed international events and looked forward to the honour and challenge of leading the country’s top players.
The 4 Nations Face-Off is set to be the inaugural best-on-best tournament featuring NHL players from the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden. The tournament, from February 12 to 20, will showcase these four nations competing in seven games over a nine-day period, with host cities in North America yet to be announced. The 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 6-22, will be hosted in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with NHL players set to participate for the first time since 2014.
Bill Guerin, general manager of the U.S. 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympic men’s team, expressed his enthusiasm for Sullivan’s appointment, praising the coach’s expertise in the realm of international hockey. A native of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Sullivan has an impressive coaching record of 445-275-100 with 15 ties in 11 NHL seasons, including coaching positions with the Penguins and Boston Bruins. Notably, he led the Penguins to two Stanley Cup triumphs in 2016 and 2017, and this recent season saw a near-miss for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Sullivan’s involvement with USA Hockey spans over five decades, starting with his participation in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 1988. He also represented the U.S. Men’s National Team at the IIHF Men’s World Championship in 1997 and served as an assistant coach for the U.S. at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Turin Olympics. In addition, he led the U.S. team at the 2007 Worlds and served as an assistant in the 2008 Worlds.
Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey, acknowledged Sullivan’s enduring dedication to American hockey, commending the coach’s leadership and lasting contributions to the sport in the country. Anticipation surrounds the upcoming announcement of the initial six players for each team’s rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off, expected to be revealed early this summer. As the nation looks ahead to these two prestigious events, there is great anticipation for Sullivan’s leadership and the success that may unfold under his guidance.