Jon Cooper’s Journey to Leading Team Canada at 4 Nations
You know, Jon Cooper could have easily been behind the bench for Team USA instead of Canada. It’s kind of wild when you think about it. Back in 2008, he was already working with USA Hockey, coaching their under-18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. There was even a moment when USA Hockey almost locked him in. Brian Burke, the former Team USA Olympic GM, saw the potential and pushed hard to bring Cooper into the program before Canada could swoop in.
But fate had other plans. In 2017, Hockey Canada came calling first. That was the year the Tampa Bay Lightning missed the playoffs, and the opportunity to coach at the IIHF Men’s World Championship was right there. What’s crazy is that both Hockey Canada and USA Hockey called him within 10 minutes of each other. Imagine that—two major hockey nations battling over one coach. But in the end, Cooper followed his heart and chose Canada, the country he was born in.
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Fast forward to today, and Cooper is leading Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, with the Olympics on the horizon in 2026. It’s been a long journey, and it hasn’t always been smooth. He was supposed to coach Canada at the 2022 Olympics before COVID-19 forced the NHL to pull out. That was a gut punch for him. He called it "devastating," knowing how much it meant to represent Canada on the biggest stage. Now, he finally gets that chance.
His coaching staff for the 4 Nations tournament is stacked—Pete DeBoer, Bruce Cassidy, and Rick Tocchet are all on board. And it’s not just about X’s and O’s; it’s about chemistry. Cooper is known for creating an atmosphere where his staff and players genuinely enjoy the process. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t just sit in his hotel room after a loss. Instead, he gathers the team, shares a few beers at a dive bar, and figures out the next move. That’s his style—collaborative, decisive, and always thinking ahead.
Players love playing for him. His ability to connect with them, adapt to different personalities, and create a winning culture has made him one of the best coaches in the game. Even Wayne Gretzky put him in the same conversation as legends like Scotty Bowman and Glen Sather. That’s elite company.
Now, with one win away from a 4 Nations title, Cooper is proving once again why he’s the right man for the job. But for him, this is just the beginning. He’s got his eyes set on Olympic gold in 2026. And if history has shown us anything, it’s that Jon Cooper finds a way to win.
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