Colliton to Replace Julien as Olympic Coach for Canada

Canada is swapping out one former NHL coach for another. 

Jeremy Colliton will serve as head coach for Team Canada's men's hockey team at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics, Hockey Canada announced on Sunday morning, replacing Claude Julien after the veteran bench boss sustained an injury during the team's training camp. 

According to an official press release, Julien slipped on the ice during a team-building exercise in Switzerland and sustained fractured ribs, an injury which Canada's medical staff have deemed too severe to endure the long flight to Beijing. 

So, as per their recommendations, Julien will stay home while Colliton assumes head coaching duties. 

"Claude was beyond excited and honored to be a member of Team Canada at the Olympics, and we are all disappointed that he will no longer be able to lead our team in Beijing,” Canada GM Shane Doan said in a statement. 

 “Claude is in great spirits and we will continue to do everything we can to support him. We ask that Claude’s privacy please be respected at this time."

While Julien is certainly a loss, there are far worse replacements behind the bench than Colliton. 

Along with tenures in the AHL and Sweden's Hockey Allsvenskan, Colliton also brings NHL experience of his own, serving as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks from 2018 until his dismissal in November of 2021. At the time of his hiring, Colliton actually became the youngest active head coach in the entire NHL at just 35 years old, making him, in fact, younger than some of the players on his own team. 

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks achieved little success in parts of four seasons under Colliton, and he finished his tenure with an 87-92-26 record in 205 games. 

Still, Colliton is a young and creative hockey mind. And given his role on Julien's staff prior to the latter's injury, the transition will likely be seamless. 

Fans will have to wait for the opening game to find out.