ITHACA, N.Y. — Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey, has been named to the coaching staff for the U.S. Collegiate Selects for the 2026 Spengler Cup this December in Davos, Switzerland, it was announced Wednesday afternoon (July 29).

Jones will serve as one of two assistant coaches under Mike Souza, who enters his ninth season as head coach at New Hampshire and will lead the U.S. Collegiate Selects after serving as an assistant on last year's inaugural team. Minnesota Duluth head coach Scott Sandelin rounds out the coaching staff as the other assistant coach.

"We're excited to announce our coaching staff for this year's Spengler Cup," said Steve Metcalf, U.S. Collegiate Selects general manager and Hockey East commissioner. "Mike was part of our staff last year as we reached the championship game in our debut. Bringing him back as head coach gives us continuity and a coach who already knows what this tournament demands. Joining him are Scott and Casey — two of the most accomplished coaches in college hockey. Scott has won three national championships at Minnesota Duluth and played in the Spengler Cup himself, while Casey has built winning programs at Cornell and Clarkson over his career."

"I am honored to join the U.S. Collegiate Selects staff and represent Cornell and college hockey on this stage," Jones said. "The Spengler Cup is a tournament with tremendous tradition and prestige, and having the opportunity to be a part of it is something I do not take lightly. After watching last year's event and speaking with those who were there, I have a deep appreciation for just how special the experience is. I look forward to coaching in such a unique setting while representing collegiate hockey at the highest level."

The U.S. Collegiate Selects open the 2026 Spengler Cup against Swedish club Frölunda HC on Saturday, Dec. 26, at 8:15 p.m. CET (2:15 p.m. EST). Frölunda enters as the reigning Champions Hockey League champion, having claimed its fifth CHL title since the league's founding in 2013. Depending on the outcome against Frölunda, the Selects will face host club HC Davos either Sunday, Dec. 27 (following a loss) or Monday, Dec. 28 (following a win). Pre-semifinal play is set for Tuesday, Dec. 29, with the semifinals and championship following on Wednesday, Dec. 30, and Thursday, Dec. 31.

The entire U.S. Collegiate Selects roster, which will feature 25 student-athletes from all six NCAA Division I conferences, will be announced in the coming months.

Last year, the U.S. Collegiate Selects made a memorable debut in Davos, advancing to the championship game before falling to HC Davos, 6-3, as the host club claimed its tournament-leading 15th title. Rising senior forward and captain Ryan Walsh was one of two ECAC Hockey representatives on last year's squad. The Rochester, N.Y., native recorded a goal and an assist across three games — both points coming in the championship game.

The 2026-27 season will be Jones' second as head coach at his alma mater after a debut campaign that saw Cornell go 22-11-1 overall and 15-6-1 in ECAC Hockey play. His 22 wins tied Dick Bertrand '70 for the most by a first-year head coach in program history, while his 15 conference wins tied both Bertrand and Brian McCutcheon '74 for the most by a first-year bench boss.