Mark Johnson To Coach USA Women's 2010 Olympic Team

It would not take a miracle for the American women's hockey team to upend Canada on home ice at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. They are Canada's equal in the world of women's hockey.

But that did not stop Team USA from hiring a coach who is very familiar with Olympic miracles.

Mark Johnson was named head coach of the Team USA women's national team today.

Although Johnson played 11 seasons and nearly 700 games in the National Hockey League, he is best known for two things: a) he was a star player on the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" American squad that unthinkably upset the Soviets en route to Olympic gold, and b) he is the son of Badger Bob Johnson, American and NHL coaching icon.

The younger Johnson has followed in his dad's coaching footsteps, returning to the University of Wisconsin where he has coached the Badgers' women's team since 2002, winning back to back collegiate championships in 2006 and 2007.

Johnson previously coached the Americans to the 2007 world championships silver medal, as well as the gold medal at the women's U-18 championships earlier this month.

Interestingly, Johnson was by no means the obvious choice.

The Americans won the 2008 World Championships, including two wins over Canada, with Ohio coach Jackie Barto.

Katey Stone, head coach at Harvard, led the Americans to victory over Canada at the Four Nations Cup back in November, as well as to the inaugural women's under-18 championship.

It is good to see the women's game is in such good shape south of the border.