MILAN – John Wroblewski chuckled when reflecting on how he probably would not have been part of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program if he were a contemporary teenage hockey player.
Nonetheless, Wroblewski’s path to his current position as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team is closely linked to his experiences with the NTDP.
In the summer of 2007, Wroblewski received a transformative phone call from Scott Monaghan, the assistant executive director of the NTDP.
The NTDP was in search of an intern/assistant coach to support its teams, prompting Monaghan to contact Wroblewski, who had been a player on the inaugural NTDP roster in 1997.
“At that time, I was residing in Southern California and wanted to remain involved in hockey, but I was considering a front office role with a team,” Wroblewski, who played four seasons of professional hockey, stated. “This turned out to be an ideal opportunity.”
The internship introduced Wroblewski to three coaching mentors—John Hynes, Ron Rolston, and Tim Taylor.
“There’s just a wealth of inspiration at the program for a young person trying to carve out a path in hockey,” Wroblewski recalled. “Everything aligned perfectly for me. The artistry of coaching and the various paths one could take to reach a final decision were evident. Those coaches had three distinct methodologies.”
Wroblewski remained with the NTDP from 2008 to 2010 before taking on various coaching positions in the USHL, AHL, and ECHL. He returned to the NTDP as the program’s head coach for four seasons (2016-2020) before accepting a head coaching role with the Ontario Reign.
The Neenah, Wisconsin, native was appointed head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team in August 2022, and under his leadership, the U.S. Women’s National Team has secured two gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship (2023, 2025).
Goaltender Aerin Frankel had a standout tournament at the 2023 Women’s World Championship and has earned two gold medals with Wroblewski. Frankel acknowledged Wroblewski for his energetic demeanor and ongoing preparation.
“He is just fantastic and has so much faith in our group,” Frankel remarked after practice on Tuesday at Milano Rho Hockey Arena. “He brings energy to the rink every day and provides us with a clear plan. Everyone is aligned and understands exactly what we need to do. We have a very close-knit group in the locker room, and he recognizes that, fostering this unity for a purpose. We all trust him and respect the messages he conveys to our team.”
Wroblewski’s enthusiasm and high energy were evident on Tuesday during both the team’s photoshoot and their third practice since arriving on January 30.
Currently, Wroblewski has the team set to pursue Olympic gold later this month, marking the latest chapter in the 44-year-old’s return to USA Hockey.
The U.S. begins its quest for gold on Thursday against Czechia (10:40 a.m. ET | USA Network | Peacock) at Milano Rho Hockey Arena.
“It’s been a fairly consistent progression for me,” Wroblewski stated. “And fortunately, at the age of 16, you become integrated into USA Hockey at the NTDP as a player. It’s definitely felt like, ‘This is where you belong. This is home for you.’
“USA Hockey has always been a fundamental part of my life, and now it serves as a stabilizing influence.”
A version of this story originally appeared in the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games USA Hockey Magazine preview issue
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