Bensenville IL (October 18th, 2012) — Chicago Steel assistant coach and director of player development, R.J. Enga, has been named an assistant coach for the United States Men’s Select Team that will compete in the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, Nov. 5-11, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
Enga is in his second season with the Steel after serving as an assistant coach in the North American Hockey League with the Topeka RoadRunners, where he helped the club capture the 2010 NAHL Presidents trophy and back-to-back NAHL South Division championships (2009,2010).
“It is a huge honor to be chosen by Coach Larson as an assistant for the 2012 World Junior A Challenge,” Enga said. “Anytime you get to represent your country in an event like this is very special. I am certainly looking forward to working with all the players and such a great staff.”
Enga said that preparation has already begun for the World Junior A Challenge, which will feature two squads from Canada, and teams from Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and the U.S. The U.S. has won three of the last four World Junior A Challenge championships.
“We had a conference call earlier this month and Coach Larson has some great ideas for the 2012 squad,” Enga said. “We are going to try to get together here to finalize the roster and talk over team building exercises. I am excited to learn from two great coaches and help this team any way I can.”
As a player, Enga was a member of the 1989 U.S. Select-17 Team in Lake Placid, NY and the U.S. Men’s national team at Finland’s Tampere Cup in 1994. He played collegiately at Colorado College and spent 10 seasons competing professionally.
Enga is the second member of the Chicago Steel staff to coach the United States in international competition. Two seasons ago, Steel head coach Scott McConnell served as the video coach for Team USA at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, where they defeated Sweden in the bronze medal game.
“Anytime you get the opportunity to represent your country is an honor,” McConnell said. “I couldn’t be happier for him. No one has worked harder and no one will represent our country better than Coach Enga.”
Enga and the U.S. Select Team will begin competition on Nov. 5 against Canada East at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth. For more information on the World Junior A Challenge, please visit: www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/170547/la_id/1.htm
