University of Minnesota Athletics
Johnson to Continue as U.S. U-18 Head Coach
5/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- Associate head coach Joel Johnson has been named head coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team for the 2015-16 season, USA Hockey announced. Johnson continues in the position which he held during the 2014-15 season as well.
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Team USA last season, and I look forward to once again serving as the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team," said Johnson. "As a coaching staff, we look forward to representing USA Hockey and working with the players to achieve success during the upcoming season."
Joining Johnson as assistant coaches will be Katie Lachapelle, assistant women's ice hockey coach at Boston University, and Maura Crowell, head women's ice hockey coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
The trio will lead the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team at the 2015 Women's Under-18 Series against Canada in Lake Placid, N.Y., from August 20-23, and at the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women's World Championship that is anticipated to take place in the Canada in the early part of 2016.
"Joel was instrumental in last season's success and has played an important role in the development of our players," said Reagan Carey, director of women's hockey at USA Hockey. "Along with Katie and Maura, we look forward to the contributions of this coaching staff as they help our players reach their highest potential."
Johnson will serve as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team for the second consecutive season after leading Team USA to the gold medal at the 2015 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship in Buffalo, N.Y. Johnson has additional experience with USA Hockey as a member of the coaching staff for the 2012 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship and a pair of Women's Under-18 Series (2013-14). He has also served as a coach at various U.S. Women's Select Festivals.
Johnson completed his 10th season as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota in 2014-15, helping lead the Golden Gophers to the program's sixth national championship in its fourth-straight appearance in the championship game.
During two stints, Johnson has been a part of five national titles (2000, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015) with the Gophers. He originally served as an assistant coach from 1999-2004 and returned to the University of Minnesota in the same capacity in 2010-11 after a six-year hiatus.
Johnson also spent six seasons coaching at Bethel University from 2004-10, including three years as the men's hockey head coach. Along with his men's hockey responsibilities, he was also the men's and women's golf coach and prior to that was the soccer coach where he earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors.
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