USA Hockey announces 2019-20 U18, U22 coaches

For the second time, Maura Crowell will serve as the head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team in 2019-20, USA Hockey announced.

In her first season, Crowell led the team to a IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship silver medal, extending USA’s medal streak to 12 years in that tournament. Prior to that, she served as assistant coach for two years, earning gold medals both times. Dating back to 2015, Crowell has also served as head coach for various other U18 series’.

Crowell has been the head coach of the University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team for four years, leading them to the NCAA playoffs for the first time in six years in 2017. In the same year, she won USCHO Division I Women’s Coach of the Year, CCM/AHCA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, and WCHA Coach of the Year.

Joining Crowell behind the bench will be USA Women’s National Team member Brianna Decker, along with associate head coach at the College of the Holy Cross Meredith Roth, and Union College head coach Josh Sciba. Decker made her assistant coaching debut last year with the U18 team in their series against Canada.

Joel Johnson will also make his sophomore return behind the benches for the women’s U22 team. While an assistant coach in 2018, Johnson helped lead the team to a Four Nations Cup victory, as well as a sweep of Team Canada at the U22 Series the same year as head coach. Prior to that, Johnson was head coach of the U18 team for four years, taking home a IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship gold medal every time.

Johnson has also served as the associate head coach of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers team for 14 years, bringing them six national titles.

Joining Johnson behind the bench will be Courtney Kennedy, associate head coach at Boston College, and Katie Lachapelle, head coach at the College of the Holy Cross. Kennedy claims two Olympic medals from her time on the U.S. Women’s National team, and has served as the Boston College associate head coach for 12 years alongside head coach Katie King Crowley. Together, they have won over 300 games.

These coaching lineups will be set in place for the 2019-20 season beginning this summer with the 2019 USA Hockey Women’s National Festival, Aug. 5.