The world coach on the Italian team: “It’s a privilege”

Mike Keenan is a man with a firm handshake who has a great aura surrounding him. He is someone who seeks direct eye contact and has a clear speech. His first appearance as coach of the Italian national team is a foretaste of what awaits Daniel Frank, Diego Kostner, Alex Trivellato and Co. in the coming weeks and years. Keenan was officially introduced on Wednesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Bolzano - and with him a big project.

The project is called “Olympia 2026” and the experienced Canadian, who has a whopping 1.386 NHL games under his belt as a coach, is a significant part of it. “I've never been to the Olympics, I still want to do that. Italy is not a big ice hockey nation, but for me it is a privilege to lead the Blue Team to the Winter Games in my own country. We want to make all Italians proud,” said Keenan’s first words as head of the Blue Team. About the person: Mike Keenan Personal life He is 72 years old, comes from near Toronto (Canada), is married and has an adult daughter. In 2018 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is now considered cured. Stations Canadian national team (1988, 1992-93), Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames (all NHL, 1984-2009), Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Kunlun Red Star (both KHL, 2013-18). SUCCESS Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers (1994), Gagarin Cup with Magnitogorsk (2014). Keenen was the first coach to win both the NHL and KHL titles. With 672 wins, he ranks 15th in the ranking of the all-time best NHL coaches. Keenan is following in the footsteps of Greg Ireland, who was described as a “tough dog”. The pace is likely to remain the same, as the 72-year-old didn't earn the nickname “Iron Mike” for nothing. As a counterpart, Mike Pellino was installed as assistant coach. The Italian-Canadian was formerly the head coach of the Canadian selection, but most recently worked primarily as an assistant coach in the NHL and KHL for 17 years - also under Keenan. “He is a warm person and has a great way with the players. I coached him as a player at the university and later worked with him as a trainer for a long time. His role is enormously important, as is that of the other staff members. I see us as a single unit,” explains Keenan. “There are no problems, only challenges.” Mike Keenan As a unit, they want to rebuild the Blue Team after relegation from the World Group last May and overcome the problems in domestic ice hockey. Even if Keenan himself says: “There are no problems, only challenges. The sport is one big challenge. And we're not talking about tennis, soccer or football here, but about the fastest, most complicated and technically demanding sport in the world. “We all love ice hockey,” said the Canadian, whose biggest task is “to initiate development, to form a symbiosis with the players.”

Keenan has already met some of these players. He was there at HC Bozen's ICE performance against Graz and also mingled with the spectators at the Continental Cup in Asiago. On Thursday he will attend an AlpsHL game together with FISG sports director Stefan Zisser, before a first trip to Bruneck is planned for Saturday. Keenan will make his international debut at a friendly tournament in Budapest from November 11th to 13th. This is what the FISG bosses say about the choice of coach: Andrea Gios (President): “Mike Keenan is not a coach who will make easy selections but will develop players. He will focus exclusively on our ice hockey for ten months of the year. His acceptance surprised me; I never thought we would get a coach of this caliber. Keenan knows there are problems in this country. Nevertheless, he is full of energy and enthusiasm to tackle the 2026 Olympics project. It must also be made clear: the Winter Games are our last chance to finally move ice hockey forward in Italy.”

FISG press spokesman Luca Tommasini, Marcello Cobelli, Andrea Gios, Mike Keernan and Stefan Zisser (from left) at the speaker's table. © V. Gallina

Marcello Cobelli (ice hockey manager): “We have to manage to awaken the euphoria, passion and interest in ice hockey that was enormous in the 90s not only in Bolzano but throughout northern Italy. Let's dream of a surprise at the Olympics and see the Winter Games as the first big step towards a better future. Mike Keenan is the right man for this. We will try to provide him with a maximum of five to seven really good Italos, the rest of the squad should consist of local players.”

Stefan Zisser (sports director): “We consciously decided against a national coach with a dual role as this has recently led to internal problems. We were looking for a full-time coach and found the ideal man in Mike Keenan. He will start with a training camp in Bolzano on November 7th, and two days later he will go to Hungary for three tournament games. We will advise him on the first selection of players, then he will take over the helm.”

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The world coach on the Italian team: “It’s a privilege”

He has coached the best players in the world, has won everything there is to win as a coach, and now he is supposed to bring Italy's ice hockey into shape. We're talking about Mike Keernen. SportNews spoke to the new national coach.

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