'We're going to find a way': Colliton embracing challenge as head coach of Canadian men's Olympic hockey team

Jeremy Colliton knows a thing or two about taking over for a legend, given his experience filling the National Hockey League head coaching job vacated by Joel Quenneville in Chicago. 

Not one to lack confidence, Colliton seemed undaunted Sunday — just like he did back in 2018 in the Windy City — when Hockey Canada announced his promotion from assistant coach to head coach of the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team.

This time, Colliton, 37, takes over for Claude Julien, a Stanley Cup champion and Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL's best coach. And this time, Colliton has all of 11 days until Team Canada's first Olympic match against Germany at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

No pressure, or anything.

"We lost one of the most experienced coaches working right now," Colliton said of Julien in a news conference held via Zoom on Sunday. "We're facing some adversity and we're going to respond and we're going to pull together. The players are going to come together. The staff is going to come together, and we're going to find a way."

According to Team Canada general manager Shane Doan, Julien fractured ribs when he slipped on ice during a team-building exercise at a pre-Olympic training camp in Switzerland. On the advice of the medical staff, the 61-year-old Julien is unable to fly to Beijing due to the injury.

All along, Doan expected possible roster movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the possibility of any player or staff member testing positive before or during the tournament.

He did not foresee a mishap like this.

"It was kind of a bizarre situation," Doan said. "It happens. And when it does, you just deal with it and keep going."

Aside from star centre Eric Staal, Julien was arguably the biggest name on the Canadian