Providence College head coach Nate Leaman will be the head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, USA Hockey announced Monday afternoon.
Leaman, 47, was an assistant coach for the U.S. at the World Juniors in 2007 and 2009. This will be his first turn as head coach for USA Hockey. The Centerville, Ohio, native has been head coach of the Friars since the 2012-13 season.
Leaman guided Providence to the program's first NCAA Championship in 2015 and has led the Friars to unprecedented success. Providence has made the NCAA Tournament the past six consecutive seasons, including 2015 and another Frozen Four appearance in 2019.
Before coming to Providence, Leaman built the Union College program to new heights. After he left, the Dutchmen won the 2014 NCAA Championship with his fingerprints over much of the team. At Union, Leaman won the 2011 Spencer Penrose Award as the top coach in college hockey.
“We’re extremely excited to have Nate leading our National Junior Team,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey and also the general manager of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team, in a press release. “He has a championship pedigree and is one of the top coaches in our country.”
“It’s obviously an honor to be asked and I’m grateful for the opportunity. Any time you have the chance to represent your country it’s a proud moment, particularly in a tournament like the World Juniors. I look forward to the challenge ahead. We have one goal in mind and that is to bring home a gold medal," Leaman was quoted in the Providence College press release.
O'Connor bolts Dartmouth
Dartmouth sophomore left wing Drew O'Connor will forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility to sign a NHL entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to a report on Twitter by Mark Divver.
The Wayne, N.J., native is a late bloomer who put together two strong seasons for Bob Gaudet's Big Green. In 2019-20, O'Connor potted 21 goals and added 12 assists in 31 games. As a freshman in 2018-19, he had 17 goals and nine assists in 34 games.
Prior to his time at Dartmouth, O'Connor played a year with the Boston Jr. Bruins, two years with the North Jersey Avalanche and two years of high school hockey for Delbarton.
Minor League signings
Brown senior defenseman Zach Giuttari, a Warwick, R.I., native and Loomis Chaffee alum, signed an ATO with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers. In addition to the ATO, he signed a one-year AHL deal with the organization for 2020-21.
Vermont senior goaltender Stefanos Lekkas has joined the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets. Lekkas is Hockey East's all-time leader in saves and was one of the few bright spots for the Catamounts over the past couple of seasons.
