Mike Keenan has already taken on Italy: “Miracles happen.”

Mike Keenan has already taken on Italy

Mike Keenan, the new head coach of the National Ice Hockey Team, showed all his enthusiasm for being given the job. “I’ve had so many wonderful international experiences, but this for me is both a challenge and a unique opportunity,” he said. “I find it exciting to be able to follow a process of building and developing a team ahead of an Olympics, plus as the host country: this experience will also give me the opportunity to learn about new and different facets of the game. To begin with, I can say that sometimes miracles happen: the Italian people are passionate about sports, and for this reason I want expectations to be high. I am a person who is not afraid to try to break down odds and adversity.”

“I’ve coached Team Canada in the past and I’m used to setting up competitive teams despite not being able to coach them on a day-to-day basis,” Keenan added: “I want my players to be able to excel, to have a desire for results, to be instilled with the idea of success, and to be able to compete under pressure.