Sullivan Steadfast for Success in Olympic Men’s Hockey Tournament, Team USA Chasing First Gold Medal Since 1980

Mike Sullivan, Team USA head hockey coach for the 2026 Winter Games, was an assistant coach at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

Head coach Mike Sullivan of Team United States takes part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy on Feb. 8, 2026. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Team USA hockey coach Mike Sullivan needs a “pick-me-up” at the Winter Olympics Games in Italy.

Putting the NHL schedule behind him, even for a couple weeks and turning his complete concentration to chasing the gold medal in the Milan-Cortina games, is the boost his coaching could use.

In his first season at the helm in New York, after 10 years as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ bench boss, the Rangers are in eighth place, at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, trailing the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning by a full 28 points. After the 2–0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, the last game for Sullivan’s New York Rangers prior to the Olympic break, plotting out the upcoming international hockey schedule now takes priority for Sullivan.

Both Sullivan and USA Hockey need a win.

Having touched down in Milan, and already having overseen practices of the 25-man Team USA squad that begins its Olympic schedule on Feb. 12 in a preliminary round match with Latvia, Sullivan can be “all in” on preparing for future opponents. With video conferences firmly in the past, putting together the lines and assigning a starting goalie is the coach’s priority now. With Team USA last collecting the gold medal in men’s hockey at Lake Placid in 1980, stacked with a collection of all-NHL players in Milan-Cortina, Sullivan has been given the personnel by Team USA general manager Bill Guerin to reverse the losing streak.

Going back to Sullivan’s childhood playing street hockey and pick-up games on frozen ponds in his hometown of Duxbury on Massachusetts’ south shore, Olympic hockey and the “Miracle on Ice” Team USA that defeated the Soviet Union on its way to winning the gold medal, has always had a soft spot in the coach’s heart. Leading the current roster of America’s best hockey players in Italy is a dream come true for him.

In an interview with The New York Post on Friday, Sullivan expressed confidence that Team USA could compete with any country.

“I think 20 years ago, Canada could put two teams together to compete,” he said. “And I think the United States is in that same conversation right now.”

Head coach Mike Sullivan of Team United States speaks to the team during training on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 8, 2026. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Aside from expressing confidence in his roster of players, the often stone-faced Sullivan isn’t talking too much beyond what could be seen as standard talking points. Surely, the coach and his staff will be scouting Group B preliminary games on Wednesday as Slovakia–Finland and Sweden–Italy jump-start the opening round of competition. Although American Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) is the favorite to see most of the action as Team USA goalie, the reigning NHL MVP and Vezina Trophy winner as the league’s top goaltender in 2024–2025 could easily trade ice time with Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins), and Team USA wouldn’t lose a beat in front of their net. Jake Oettinger, who is having a decent season for the Western Conference Dallas Stars (23–10–4), is a third option for Sullivan to call on to defend the goal.

The Milan-Cortina Winter Games mark the official return of NHL players to Olympic play since 2014. Guerin echoes the excitement of the best hockey players in the world being able to compete in the most prestigious of hockey tournaments.

“It’s great that the NHL players are back in the Olympics,” Guerin told The Associated Press.“Obviously it’s the biggest sports stage in the world, and we’re all happy we’re back involved.”

Arriving in Milan for the anticipated 60-minute games (no ties), and dethroning Finland, who won the gold in 2022 at the Beijing Winter Games, comes for Sullivan after a career of battling the odds in being a difference-maker. As a skater, he did tours in the minors—the American Hockey League and International Hockey League. Time spent in Kansas City, Missouri; San Diego, California; and New Brunswick, Canada, followed by 11 NHL seasons in San Jose, Calgary, and Phoenix, and even one season with his hometown favorite Bruins, well prepared Sullivan to lead as a head coach.

The 20 years coaching at the highest level, as an assistant and head coach, have prepped Sullivan for the grand sporting stage of the Olympics. Perhaps his toughest decision, after the final Team USA roster was announced, came last month in Miami. During the Jan. 2 Winter Classic, Florida Panthers’ defenseman Seth Jones injured his right collarbone, and needed to be replaced from the Olympic roster. Anaheim Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe became the “next man up.” Aside from this one transaction, Sullivan is well versed on the skills of his “temporary” team in Italy.

Between Monday and Thursday, the starting lineups will be finalized. And in hearing Sullivan explain the process to The Associated Press, there is no rush to patch together pairings until all his players get to audition in practice.

“At the end of the day, performance will inevitably be the dictator. In a tournament like this, it has to be. And so, we have an idea going in how we want to go about it and how we want to approach it.”

Hockey fans everywhere will find out on Thursday who will be leading the charge, and blocking the net from opponents’ pucks, when Sullivan starts to officially put his stamp on Team USA’s march to the gold medal.