By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Calgary, AB (SportsNetwork.com) - Former Florida Panthers coach Kevin Dineen has been named the head coach for the Canadian women's Olympic hockey team.
Dineen was fired in November after the Panthers opened the campaign with a 3-9-4 mark. He was in his third season with Florida and had guided the club to a division title in his first year of 2011-12.
The 50-year-old NHL veteran played for Canada in the 1984 Olympics and also represented his country at the World Hockey Championship four times. He won a silver medal for Canada at the 1985 and '89 worlds, and was part of the winning 1987 Canada Cup squad.
"This is a critical time for Canada's National Women's Team with the start of the Olympics less than two months away, and we feel Kevin is a terrific fit with our staff as we get ready for Sochi," said Melody Davidson, general manager of female national teams with Hockey Canada. "His experience, both on the ice and behind the bench, will be invaluable over the coming weeks."
Dineen was also a head coach for six seasons with the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates.
"Kevin has had success in both the AHL and NHL, and we're looking forward to him being a part of the staff for the final push towards Sochi," added Hockey Canada COO Scott Smith.
Dineen will work with assistant coaches Danielle Goyette and Lisa Haley, along with Davidson, to finalize Canada's roster for the 2014 Games over the coming weeks.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/dineen-named-canadian-womens-hockey-coach