Mike Keenan will not coach Italy at their home World Cup.

Worries before the home World Cup: Italy's coach is out

The Ice Hockey World Championship 1st Division, Group A begins in the Sparkasse Arena in a month. However, Italy will have to do without its own coach.

March 27, 2024

From: det

It has been exactly 30 years since the last ice hockey world championship took place in South Tyrol. This dry spell will end at the end of April 2024: In the Sparkasse Arena, the Azzurri will fight for promotion to the top division - but without their coach Mike Keenan, who cannot look after the team.

As Italy's ice sports association announced on Wednesday, Keenan "suffers from serious health problems that require an operation and then force him to a long recovery period." The 74-year-old will therefore not be taking part in Bolzano.

The assistant and someone new should fix it

The Azzurri are therefore led into the World Cup by assistant coach Mike Pelino. He receives support from his staff, which includes Fabio Armani, Giorgio De Bettin, Diego Scandella (all assistant coaches) and David Jamieson (goalie coach). Italy's coaching team will also be joined by a new face, Perry Pearn.

The 72-year-old Canadian has had a very long coaching career, including coaching Team Canada at the Spengler Cup and working behind the boards for Ambri-Piotta. He also served as an assistant coach in the NHL for more than two decades. The World Cup in Bolzano begins on April 28th and runs until May 4th.