Takin' a T/O With BT: Scott Gordon's Long Overdue Shot with Hockey USA

Just when you thought it was done, you get a little bit more.

Although fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have to wait until next October to see their beloved boys in blue in action once again, they'll be able to catch head coach Ron Wilson in action with Team USA.

As the red, white, and blue prepare for the upcoming World Championships—April 24-May 10 in Switzerland—though, another fan base will be able to watch their coach in a little extracurricular action as earlier this afternoon, New York Islanders' head coach Scott Gordon was named as Wilson's assistant.

Gordon, a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, is the second coach to be named to the team this week by USA Hockey.

"We're thrilled to have Scott join Ron Wilson in guiding our men's national team. While this will be his first experience as a coach on the international scene, he's a proven winner and no doubt one of the bright young coaches in the game today".

Those glowing words came from Toronto Maple Leafs', and Team USA's General Manager Brian Burke through USA Hockey press release today, as the direction Team USA hopes to take towards the Olympic Games becomes a little more defined.

As was stated during Wilson's press conference Monday, availability for the World Championships doesn't necessarily ensure a spot on the Olympic team, be it for a player or a coach.

Although it does help.

If Gordon were able to impress a coach of Wilson's pedigree through his work this May, it may help him receive consideration for a spot, not only on the 2010 Olympic team, but further down the raod as well.

For those unfamiliar with one of the fresher faces on the NHL coaching scene, Gordon's done some great work with a young Islander's team.

He was able to improve upon last year's 29th-ranked power-play by just under three percent (14.6 percent in 2008 compared to 17.3 percent this season), moving the Isles up the standings to 22nd.

The Islanders are just a touch worse than last season in the penalty-kills department (80.7 percent efficiency this season compared to an 81.9 percent efficiency last season), but the Fishmen have moved up two spots in the league standings to 17th.

More impressive though, is that the team has gone from having the seventh most penalty minutes last season (417 minutes) to 12th most this season (378 minutes), as Gordon has helped the players restrict themselves when it comes to an overt amount of terrible penalties.

Then you also consider the fact that Gordon has been without starter Rick DiPietro this season, and suddenly the nine fewer wins between the two seasons isn't such a stark contrast.

Gordon also has something that USA Hockey loves to key on: Experience.

Although his international experience is limited simply to the one Olympics he attended as a player, he's had it as a coach in North America.

Gordon was once made the youngest coach in the International Hockey League's history at the age of 32 when he was named head coach of the Atlanta Knights in 1996.

From there, Gordon's success came in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. In five full season (and nine games in 2002/03), Gordon won 221 games and finished his AHL career with a .540 winning percentage.

Gordon coached the Baby Bruins to five-straight .500 seasons, four-straight 40-win seasons, a 55-win season in 2007/08, two Atlantic division titles, and a Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award, naming him AHL Coach of the Year last season.

Now? He's set up with a huge opportunity; not just himself, but for some of his players as well, because if Gordon can get the best from a guy like Kyle Okposo (If selected to the team of course) at the World Championships, they both could get a shot at Gold together in Vancouver.

Whatever happens in April though, Islanders fans should smile: A rookie head coach who's done so much with such a raw team is starting to get his dues and opportunities.

Bryan Thiel is a Senior Writer and NHL Community Leader for Bleacher Report. The press release from USA Hockey was acquired from HockeyBarn.com. If you want to get in contact with Bryan you can do so through his profile or email him at [e-mail]. You can also check out his previous work in his archives.