Laviolette to coach U.S. hockey team

COLORADO SPRINGS, March 29 (UPI) -- Carolina Coach Peter Laviolette will again coach Team USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championships, it was announced Tuesday.

The championships will be played April 30-May 15 in Innsbruck and Vienna, Austria. Last year's U.S. team under Laviolette won the bronze medal.

Don Waddell, the U.S. team's general manager, and also GM of the Atlanta Thrashers, announced the selection of Laviolette and said John Tortorella, coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, will be an associate coach.

"We're greatly pleased that Peter and John have accepted the appointment to their respective positions and embraced the opportunity to guide this team in the world championship," Waddell said.

"Both individuals are successful coaches who represent the integrity, character and leadership we have come to expect from behind our bench. They demand the most from their players and that will be evident in our style of play."