Back on December 22, 2021, it was announced that NHL players would no longer participate in the 2022 Beijing Games, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also meant that this coach would lose out on a lifelong dream to coach for his country at the highest level of competition. But luck had other plans.

Bill Guerin, during his time as an official of the Pittsburgh Penguins, marveled at the details of this Penguins coach’s plan for the squad and his ability to juggle his many responsibilities. Guerin, who aspired to run a hockey team someday, made a note. “That’s the type of coach I’d want to work with,” Guerin thought.

Guerin, general manager of the Minnesota Wild since 2019, was roped in by USA Hockey to serve in the same capacity for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Winter Olympics a year ago. There was a flurry of qualified candidates to become a coach, but for Guerin, the choice was a no-brainer.

He knew that Penguins coach was “the right guy for this job.” Ask him why. “It’s not just because of his resume, the Cups, all of his success over the last decade. I was there in Pittsburgh. We were expected to win the Cup every season. Sid, Geno, (Kris) Letang, Kessel — that’s a lot of personalities to manage. He had ‘Flower’ (Marc-Andre Fleury) and (Matt) Murray and what should have been a goalie controversy, and it wasn’t. Jim (Rutherford, then the Penguins GM) was always shaking things up with a trade. Coaching the Penguins was like a test for coaching the national team when NHL players are involved.” According to him, the coach aced it all.

So in May 2024, he officially became the head coach for Team USA to lead their participation in the two competitions. Among those, The ongoing 4 Nations Face-Off involving the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland isn’t quite the Olympics, it is the first best-on-best competition since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. And Team USA wasted no time making a statement!

The first game commenced when the USA defeated Finland by 6-1 in Montreal to show their dominant start. Henri Jokiharju scored the first goal for Finland, but the lead did not survive long. Brady Tkachuk released a strange shot that hit Juuse Saros, then found its way into the net to tie up the score. From there, it was all red, white, and blue. In the second period, Brock Faber executed a perfect pass to Matt Boldy for his goal before the Americans scored multiple times in the third frame.

Matthew Tkachuk’s wrist flick took the puck on a lucky bounce, Jake Guentzel capitalized on a rush, and Brady Tkachuk struck again. Just for good measure, Matthew tapped in a rebound to cap off a dominant night, with the Tkachuk brothers running the show. So, with Team USA off to a flying start in the 4 Nations Face-Off, it begs the question—who’s the mastermind behind this squad? The man calling the shots, shaping the plays, and fueling their fire?

The man behind running the show is Mike Sullivan. But this isn’t his first rodeo. Sullivan has been repping his home turf on the international stage for years, making this his fifth time coaching for the red, white, and blue. He joined Olympic coaching as an assistant coach in 2006 before earning the top position to guide Team USA during the 2007 World Championship. Sullivan provided his knowledge at both the ’08 World Championship and the ’16 World Cup competition.

Hailing from Marshfield, Massachusetts, Sullivan is part of a long line of U.S. Olympic coaches with ties to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He follows in the footsteps of Herb Brooks, a Penguins scout in 2002 when he led Team USA to silver in Salt Lake City, and Dan Bylsma, who balanced Pittsburgh’s head coaching gig while leading the American squad in 2014. But Sullivan isn’t just here for the legacy—he’s carved out his name in the NHL coaching ranks.

Sullivan has led the Penguins since 2015 as he secured back-to-back Stanley Cup victories during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. This win in his first two seasons as head coach made him the first American-born coach to achieve this double victory and placed him alongside Toe Blake among the select group of two who accomplished this achievement.

The impact that Sullivan has made in Pittsburgh remains indubitable. Since his appointment as Pittsburgh’s head coach in December 2015, he has accumulated 375 wins, which surpasses any other coach in team history and continues to rise. His regular-season achievements place him at the top of the league rankings, which demonstrates his impact as both a coach and a game-altering leader.

Before becoming Penguins head coach, he spent time coaching at the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks and with the Chicago Blackhawks he focused on player development. Before his NHL debut, he spent time in the AHL dedicating himself to developing his coaching skills. Through his vast experience, Sullivan works to develop Team USA while simultaneously guiding its direction during each game. And guess what? His family is in the mix too!

Mike Sullivan’s family is a legacy!

Mike Sullivan sure is calling the shots for team USA but in the roster plays his son-in-law Charlie McAvoy. For McAvoy, this tournament already holds plenty of weight, but stepping onto the ice as a dad for the first time? That adds a whole new level of fire. Meanwhile, Sullivan is navigating uncharted waters—not just leading Team USA but coaching family. And yeah, he’s given it some thought. “I’ve thought about it a little bit, I’m not going to lie,” he admitted.

But beyond the X’s and O’s, he knows this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime chances. “It’s an incredible opportunity… for all of us as a family,” he reflected, fully aware that years from now, they’ll both look back on this moment with nothing but gratitude. The chance to coach McAvoy represents a privilege because he plays with determination and passion, yet being able to do it as his family? That’s next-level special.

Of course, when the puck drops, it’s all business. “We’re going to go about it the way we always go about our jobs,” Sullivan emphasized. “He’s going to compete on the ice. I’m going to coach the team to the best of my ability.” But make no mistake—this tournament is adding an unforgettable chapter to the Sullivan-McAvoy family story.