USA Hockey announced this week that associate head coach Jared DeMichiel and director of athletic performance Will Morlock of Michigan State University have been selected for the coaching staff of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championships, scheduled to take place in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from December 26 through January 5.
DeMichiel’s First Foray into International Coaching
DeMichiel, who joined the Spartans in 2022, has guided the program to three consecutive Big Ten regular‑season titles and two tournament championships. In addition to overseeing the development of goaltenders and defensemen, he coached Trey Augustine to a Mike Richter Award in 2026, highlighting his impact on the team’s most critical position.
Will Morlock, making his fourth appearance with USA Hockey on the international stage, brings a wealth of performance‑coaching experience. He previously served as the strength‑conditioning lead for the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team, the 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team, and the 2023 U.S. National Junior Team, and earlier headed the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Former Michigan State player Brent Darnell, now an assistant coach at Boston College, has been added to the staff as a video coach. Darnell recorded 25 goals, 32 assists and 57 points in 137 career games for the Spartans, earned the Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award in 2015, and has represented the United States at the 2022 and 2023 IIHF Under‑18 Men’s World Championships as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under‑18 Men’s National Team.
The upcoming tournament will test the new staff’s blend of collegiate success and international experience, as they prepare a roster that includes some of the nation’s most promising junior talent. Fans can expect a competitive showing from a team that has consistently performed at the highest levels of collegiate hockey.