American expert Barry Smith has joined the Ukrainian national hockey team as a consultant coach to support the new coaching staff with his extensive experience. Currently, the veteran coach has joined the team’s training camp in Poland, where players led by Oleksandr Bobkin are preparing for the upcoming European Nations Cup matches against Poland, Great Britain, and Italy.
Smith brings over four decades of hockey experience working across the United States and Europe in various roles, including manager, assistant coach, and scout. Notably, he has won seven Stanley Cups working as an assistant head coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, and as the director of player development for the Chicago Blackhawks. His international resume also features previous coaching stints with the national teams of Norway (1984–1985) and Italy (1989–1990), as well as serving as an assistant head coach for both the United States and Swedish national teams. The Ukrainian Hockey Federation’s press service announced his new appointment.
