Mike Babcock Will Lead Team Canada in 2010

Team Canada will have a new body behind their bench come February when they compete in Vancouver at the much-anticipated 2010 Olympics.

As opposed to years past when Canada’s Olympic teams had names such as Pat Quinn, Ken Hitchcock, and Marc Crawford leading the charge, it was announced that the man who will  lead the team is not surprisingly Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

The 46 year-old Babcock is a former McGill University defenseman, and current head coach of the Detroit RedWings. He has led the Wings to two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Cup two springs ago. He will be officially announced as head coach on Thursday by executive director Steve Yzerman, during a press conference in Montreal.

Babcock first turned heads back in 2003 when, as a rookie coach, he led the underdog Anaheim Ducks all the way to a seventh game in the Stanley Cup finals. Since then, his reputation has soared. He has registered an impressive 282-139-71 all-time record and a total of 58 wins in the post season.

Babcock, who is signed to a long-term contract with the Wings, has an impressive resume that also includes four straight seasons of leading the Wings to 50 or more victories.

On the international stage, he led Canada to the 2004 World Championship.

Team USA, Canada’s chief rival, will have current Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson behind their bench this February in Vancouver.