Joel Quenneville thrilled to be part of Team Canada coaching staff

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NEWARK, N.J. – Coach Joel Quenneville said a few days ago that being chosen to be part of Team Canada’s coaching staff would be “the thrill of a lifetime.”

Thrill achieved.

Quenneville was named an assistant coach for Team Canada for the World Cup of Hockey, when the staff was announced on Thursday in Toronto. Quenneville didn’t walk to talk much about the possibility on Tuesday, when several outlets reported he was likely to be added to the staff. On Friday, he talked about the assignment.

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“It’s a great honor, a privilege. I’m excited about it; it’s a great opportunity,” Quenneville said following morning skate. “It’s going to be a great format, a great tournament. I’m looking forward to working with Babs [head coach Mike Babcock] and hockey Canada group, and get to coach some of our guys.”

Quenneville garnered strong consideration for the team’s head coaching job; instead he will be part of a staff led by Babcock, who has won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at Team Canada’s helm. Team general manager Doug Armstrong told the media on Thursday, “it was a two-horse race for me.”

“I wasn’t torn on the final decision, but I thought we had to give Joel Quenneville the opportunity for us to discuss him,” Armstrong continued. “You just can’t get past three Stanley Cups in six years. What excites me is having both guys on the staff.”

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Andrew Shaw joked that, with Quenneville now on the Team Canada staff, “maybe I’ve got an in.”

“He’s a great coach and his record shows what he can accomplish. For him to be a part of that is a huge honor for him,” Shaw said. “It’s long overdue. He’s probably just pumped for it.”

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