David Carle signs multi-year extension with Denver Pioneers
David Carle is remaining in familiar territory.
On Monday, the NCAA’s Denver Pioneers announced that the club has signed the highly touted head coach to a multi-year contract extension.
“We are thrilled to have David continue to lead the exceptional legacy that is Denver hockey,” Denver’s vice chancellor for athletics Josh Berlo said in a statement. “His dedication and passion are second to none, and we look forward to furthering our partnership and building upon our NCAA-record 10 national championships as the most accomplished college hockey program all-time.”
The extension sees Carle return to the collegiate ranks despite being the top candidate of interest to become the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported in April. Beyond Chicago, Carle was also a candidate to man the bench of the Anaheim Ducks, reports The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
Carle became a candidate of interest this offseason following two national championships with the Pioneers. The 35-year-old Alaska native has also guided the United States to back-to-back gold-medal victories at the past two World Junior Championships.
While Carle will not take over an NHL bench next season, several top candidates remain available, including former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet who last Tuesday announced that he will not return for the coming campaign. Beyond Tocchet, other top candidates include Dave Hakstol, Peter Laviolette, Joel Quenneville, John Tortorella, and Jay Woodcroft, among others.
Following the New York Rangers‘ appointment of former Pittsburgh Penguins boss Mike Sullivan on Friday, four vacancies remain league wide, counting the Ducks, Penguins, Seattle Kraken, and Canucks. Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins, Blackhawks, and Philadelphia Flyers all currently employ interim bench bosses and are also expected to make a change.
On Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning confirmed that Jon Cooper, the NHL’s longest tenured head coach, will return for 2024-25, while on Monday, the Nashville Predators announced that bench boss Andrew Brunette will remain with the club for the coming campaign.