By USAHockey.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Peter Laviolette (Westfield State '86) has been named head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team that will participate in the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship it was announced today by USA Hockey. The event will take place in Minsk, Belarus, May 9-25. Team USA is the defending bronze medalist in the event.

Laviolette, a Franklin, Mass., native, has previously represented the United States in international competition on numerous occasions in several different capacities. He most recently served as an assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in Sochi, Russia, and was the head coach of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in Torino, Italy. Prior to that, Laviolette was head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team at the IIHF Men's World Championship in back-to-back years (2004, 2005), leading the United States to the bronze medal in 2004.

He also served as an assistant coach for the United States during the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, where he helped Team USA to the semifinals.

Laviolette, who led the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup, has more than 750 games of NHL head coaching experience. From 2009-13, he directed the Philadelphia Flyers, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2010 and winning the Atlantic Division in 2011. Laviolette was behind the Carolina bench from 2003-08. In addition to winning the Cup in 2005-06, Carolina won the Southeast Division title and set franchise records for wins (52) and points (112). Also that season, Laviolette was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach. His first two seasons as head coach in the NHL were with the New York Islanders (2001-03), where he helped the team advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs each season.

Before becoming an NHL head coach, Laviolette spent three seasons in the Boston Bruins organization, serving as assistant coach with the NHL club in 2000-01, and as head coach of the Bruins' American Hockey League affiliate, Providence, for two seasons (1998-99, 1999-2000). In his first year at Providence, Laviolette guided the team to a Calder Cup championship and received the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as AHL Coach of the Year.

As a player, Laviolette skated for the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in both the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Winter Games, serving as captain during the 1994 tournament. He also spent 11 years in professional hockey, including a 12-game stint with the New York Rangers in 1988-89.

As a collegian, Laviolette played four seasons (1982-86) at Westfield State in Massachusetts, where he appeared in 93 games and contributed 43 goals and 44 assists.