Hockey

Anchorage’s David Carle named head coach of 2024 U.S. National Junior Hockey team

Anchorage’s David Carle has been selected as head coach of the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey announced Tuesday.

Carle, 33, who led the Denver Pioneers to the 2022 NCAA title, just wrapped up his fifth season coaching the NCAA Division I powerhouse.

Team USA will play in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 26, 2023-Jan. 5, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Americans will face Czechia, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland in group play.

“It’s a great honor to have the chance to represent our country on the international stage,” Carle told USA Hockey. “I’m Iooking forward to the challenge ahead and building a team that will give us an opportunity to bring home a gold medal.”

Carle grew up in Anchorage and left during high school to play for Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota. Carle was recruited to Denver but a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosis prevented him from completing his college career. He was hired at DU at age 28 and became the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I men’s hockey.

[Coach from Anchorage guides University of Denver hockey to a national title, grateful for a chance to give back]

He coached as an assistant for the Pioneers from 2013-2018 and has led Denver to a 116-53-13 overall record as head coach.

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“We’re thrilled to have David leading our National Junior Team,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team and assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “He’s done a terrific job at Denver and is one of the bright young coaches in our country.”

Team USA has won a medal in six of the last eight IIHF World Junior Championships, including golds in 2017 and 2021.

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