Coach Ron Wilson in rehab after a stroke
Former NHL coach Ron Wilson is reportedly recovering in rehab after suffering a stroke. Los Angeles Times columnist Helene Elliott broke the news, citing several friends of the bench boss as sources.
Wilson's last job came with Team USA at the 2016 world juniors, where he steered a loaded team featuring Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk to a bronze medal in Finland. The Americans beat archrival Canada along the way and took third with a pasting of Sweden.
Before that, Wilson was best known as an NHL mind who coached Team USA's gold-medal World Cup squad, a watershed moment for a new generation of American kids in hockey.
At the NHL level, Wilson was the first coach of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and also spent time in Washington (where he led the Capitals to the 1998 Stanley Cup final), San Jose and Toronto.
Wilson also played the game at a high level, suiting up for Providence College in the mid-1970s. His coach with the Friars was Lou Lamoriello, while Brian Burke was a teammate.
