David Carle to coach USA’s 2024 World Junior Championship team

USA Hockey has announced that University of Denver bench boss David Carle will serve as head coach of the American U-20 World Junior Championship team in 2024.

Carle has never coached USA at any level, but has quickly become known as one of the better coaches in the NCAA today. The 33-year-old has served as Denver’s head coach for the past five seasons, leading the team to a national title in 2022. As an assistant coach with Denver, Carle was a two-time NCHC champion and a national champion in 2017.

“It’s a great honor to have the chance to represent our country on the international stage,” Carle said in a USA Hockey statement. “I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and building a team that will give us an opportunity to bring home a gold medal.”

Carle was drafted with the 203rd pick by Tampa Bay in 2008, but was forced to retire after being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was recruited to play for Denver, but instead served as a student assistant coach during his four-year tenure at the school from 2008-12.

David’s older brother, Matt Carle, previously served as the University of Denver captain and had a couple of 40-point seasons in a 12-year NHL career that saw him play for San Jose, Philadelphia, Nashville and Tampa Bay. He currently serves as a scout for the Minnesota Wild.

Carle will step in for Rand Pecknold, who coached USA at the 2023 world juniors. Nate Leaman held the post for two years prior, while other notable coaches – including Scott Sandelin, Mike Hastings, Bob Motzko and Ron Wilson – have done the job in the past. Pecknold led USA to bronze last year, while Leaman was the last to win it all in 2021.

The 2023 World Junior Championship will take place from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Sweden.