MILAN – The Italian Ice Sports Federation named Canadian Rick Cornacchia the new head coach of the men’s national team.

Cornacchia takes over after Michel Goulet resigned following Italy's relegation at the 2008 IIHF World Championship. Cornacchia will be introduced to the media on September 11th.

Cornacchia played in the Italian Serie A for Alleghe in the 70s and also coached there in the mid-90s. He was also coach in the Canadian major junior league OHL for the Kingston Canadians and the Oshawa Generals and of the Canadian U20 national team in 1992. Most recently, he worked with the Markham Waxers of the Ontario Provincial Junior “A” Hockey League.