Guerin's turn as Olympic General Manager a 'dream of a lifetime'

As a player, Wild General Manager Bill Guerin represented the United States in three Olympic Winter Games.
Now as an executive, Guerin will have the task of building a roster it hopes can compete for a Gold Medal in February, as Guerin was named the GM of the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team on Tuesday.
"This is actually a dream of a lifetime, and something that I take with tremendous pride," Guerin said. "[This is] something that I'm really looking forward to. It's been a crazy year, there are a lot of questions still out there. But our focus right now is to put together the best team we possibly can to compete for a Gold Medal."

An Olympic Gold Medal would be another feather in the cap for Guerin, who has been a part of four Stanley Cup championship teams - two as a player and two more as an executive with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He was also a part of Team USA at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where the Americans won Silver under the guidance of legendary coach Herb Brooks.
"This is a very happy, happy day for me and my family," Guerin said. "My wife and my kids are extremely excited about this opportunity. And it's just, yeah, you know, there have been some ups and downs. But today's a very happy day. And I'm extremely honored to be here. This is a chance of a lifetime."
Guerin was initially selected to be the Assistant GM for Team USA, serving on the staff of former Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman. But Bowman resigned his post in October as a result of the Blackhawks' sexual assault investigation.
Team USA took its time in the aftermath, and decided that elevating Guerin to the top role was its most prudent path forward, especially considering Guerin was in the running for the GM role to begin with.
"It's definitely a different path. Some unfortunate situations along the way, but Stan and I have remained in contact. Stan's a friend. And, he was doing a heck of a job. And I was proud to be on his staff," Guerin said. "Unfortunately, things turned out the way they did and we're here today. So it's been a bit of a bumpy ride. But we have a job to do. And we have to remain focused and steadfast on that."
"Billy's always [been known for being] a big-time character guy, and it is [because of] that that he is in this position today," said John Vanbiesbrouck, Team USA's Assistant Executive Director for Hockey Operations. "Great experience and leadership and honesty. And I think that means a lot to us as we communicate to the players and they know that we have a guy with a very strong voice, and he's going to back it up. That's how he was as a player and it appears that's the way he is as a manager. So we're very fortunate."
Stepping into Guerin's former role as top lieutenant will be New York Rangers General Manager Chris Drury, who like Guerin, is a New Englander, and like Guerin, is a former U.S. Olympian.
Guerin and Drury, in fact, were Olympic teammates for Team USA in both 2002 and 2006.
"In my eyes, we had a great Olympic experience together," Guerin said. "Chris and I go way back. We've been friends for a long time. I have tremendous faith in him. He's an extremely bright guy, and very trustworthy. So I'm really lucky to have him with me."

Drury said he's looking forward to working next to Guerin and grew up following the early portions of Guerin's career as a player, as Drury was coming up through the high school and ranks.
Only six years apart in age, Drury said Guerin has also been helpful as the former has transitioned from a lengthy playing career into one in management, where he is in his first season as the Rangers GM.
"Billy is not that much older than me. But he's certainly a guy that I've always looked up to even back when I was in youth hockey and high school, you know, being a fellow guy from New England that played college hockey in New England and went on to have an unbelievable career," Drury said. "He's a guy that I've leaned on throughout my playing career and now in my management career, so it's an honor to be working for him on this team and exciting stuff for sure."
Main photo by Brandon McCauley