Chris Chelios, Ron Rolston tabbed as assistants for Team USA Olympic Hockey

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The coaching staff for the United States men’s ice hockey team in the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics next February will certainly have some names familiar to those here in the state of Michigan, with a Red Wings blend to it as well.

Former Red Wings assistant and current University of Wisconsin men’s hockey head coach Tony Granato recently named his assistants for Team USA. Among them are another former Detroit assistant and long-time defenseman for the Red Wings, Chris Chelios, and former Lake Superior State head coach and Michigan Tech grad, Ron Rolston.

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Chelios had previously served as an assistant under Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill, a role where he specifically worked with the defensemen in the organization. However, he and the club parted ways back in June after he was reportedly seeking a job with the NHL Players’ Association.

The Hall of Fame NHL veteran of 26 seasons has a wealth of experience both playing and coaching at the international hockey level. He was an assistant for Team USA at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Finland last year, a team that capture a bronze medal. Chelios also played on four Olympic teams himself in his career, donning the captain ‘C’ for three of those tournaments.

A native of Fenton, Michigan, Ron Rolston won a pair of national titles with the Lakers in 1992 and 1994. He became the LSSU head coach shortly after graduating from Michigan Tech (1986-89).

Like Chelios, Rolston has a long list of coaching experience. He also previously served as head coach for the USA Hockey NTDP, winning three gold medals and one silver during that time. Rolston also was the head coach for the Buffalo Sabres from 2013-14, albeit only 51 games in an interim role of sorts before being fired mid-season. More recently, he was the head coach for the Springfield Falcons (AHL).