• Jake Horton and Tyler Moy Named Recipients of USHL Scholar-Athlete Award
  • Ryan Siiro Earns USHL Curt Hammer Award
  • 14 Players Named to All-USHL Teams
  • Eight Players Named to 2012-13 USHL All-Rookie Team
  • Dubuque Fighting Saints Win Clark Cup

Top Story

USHL Alumni to Lead U.S. National Junior Team

Monday June 18, 2012

Phil Housley, Mark Osiecki, and Grant Potulny are the coaching staff that will lead the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. (photos by USA Hockey, Getty Images, and Minnesota Athletics)

Housley, Osiecki, and Potulny all have roots in the USHL

USA Hockey announced the coaching staff for the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship and trio of coaches all played or coached in the USHL.

Phil Housley was named the head coach for the team.  The veteran of 21 NHL seasons as a defensemen spent part of the 1980-81 season in the USHL with the St. Paul Vulcans.  After being selected in the first round (6th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1982 NHL Draft, he would go on to put up 1,232 points (338g, 894a) during his career in the NHL, the most points ever by an American-born defenseman.  He also competed for the United States in 11 different international tournaments. 

Housley has coached hockey at the high school level in Minnesota for the past eight seasons.  He was an assistant for the U.S. Team when they captured the bronze at the 2011 World Junior Championship.

Serving on the staff with Housley are assistant coaches Mark Osiecki and Grant Potulny.  Osiecki, the head men’s coach at Ohio State University, spent seven years (1997-2004) in the USHL as the head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers.  He led the team to the Clark Cup title in 2000 and compiled a 209-154-44 regular season record during his time in the League.

Potulny, who is an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota, spent two seasons in the USHL as a forward for the Lincoln Stars (1998-2000).  He collected 73 points (32g, 41a) in 102 career games in the League.  He led the Stars with 25 goals during the 1999-2000 season.  Following his USHL career, Potulny was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 2000 NHL Draft.  He went on to a four-year collegiate career at the University of Minnesota before embarking on a six-year professional career.  The Grand Forks, North Dakota native began his coaching career at the University of Minnesota in 2009.  

 

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 10th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2011-12.  With 28 picks during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, 13 NHL draftees on its rosters this season, and over 270 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools this season, the USHL is emerging as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent.  For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com or visit the League’s multiple social media platforms, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/ushlhockey), twitter (www.twitter.com/ushl), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/ushlinteractive).  Fans can also watch USHL action online all season long, live or on-demand via FASTHockey (ushl.fasthockey.com)   

It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.

Go Back