Since the NHL has given its ble sing to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the United States needed a guy to run its team. Nice choice: John Tortorella. A can look forward to being belittled in his media interviews. Torts can be a rough character, a Boston guy who doesn't handle players with kid gloves. He also is a smart coach. Mr. Nice Guy he isn't, but neither was Herb Brooks. The World Cup of Hockey requires someone who isn't just there to feed egos. MORE: | | "He instantly gives your team an identity, and no question that stands Ian Hamilton Jersey for something," said Dean Lombardi, the Kings GM who has the same job with USA Hockey's senior team. Put simply: Torts pulls no punches. , and see he salts his language with raw emotion and pays for them later. The 2016 WCoH will run Sept. 17 to Oct. 1, 2016. (Yep, during training camp.) In addition to the U.S., teams involved are from Canada, Ru sia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic. There will be a team of North American players under 23 years old and a team from other European countries. Good choice for the U.S.? He certainly has a record of succe s, winning the Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Lightning and winning 444 games over 930 NHL games. He coached the Rangers and the Canucks as well. And like most coaches, he has had succe s and failure. Jeremy Roenick, for one, likes the choice. "Yes, he does get very verbal and is tough on players, but I like that type of coach," Roenick told NHL.com. "I like that type of motivator and he deserves to be in hockey." Now 57, Tortorella has a track record of coaching for USA Hockey, including as an a sistant for the 2010 Olympic team. It's an a signment he relishes. "We are playing for our country," Tortorella told The A sociated Pre s. "And I'm so excited and so honored to have this opportunity." Torts is equal parts engaging and aggravating, kind of like Mike Keenan, in dealing with the media. He is subject to world-cla s rages. But he also is a good coach for this situation. His philosophy will be simple: Put on the U.S. sweater, come to play to win. Will Warren Jersey