It’s been a slow end to the month of August for any type of real hockey news but thanks to USA Hockey we’ve officially learned that Chadd Cassidy will be one of two Rochester Americans assistant coaches. How was Cassidy chosen for the job? I think that’s a simple answer, he worked as an assistant to current Amerks coach Ron Rolston.

Who’s the other assistant coach going to be?  Likely former Rochester American and Buffalo Sabre by the name of Jay McKee according to Kevin Oklobzija.  Like he stated, why they’re waiting so long to announce these names is anyones guess.

The roster is set, the coaching staff is set, now we just wait until the end of September for training camp to start!

More on Cassidy from USA Hockey:

During the 2009-10 campaign, Cassidy helped guide the U.S. National Under-17 Team to great international success. While serving as an assistant to Ron Rolston, Cassidy helped lead Team USA to its first title at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge since 2002. He also helped pilot the squad to a first-place finish at the 2009 Under-17 Four Nations Cup in Trnava, Slovakia. The U.S. National Under-17 Team finished with a 9-1-1-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record against international foes under Rolston and Cassidy’s watch. In August, Cassidy served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that finished second at the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia.

In 2008-09, Cassidy helped guide the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team to its fourth gold medal at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Under-18 Championship in Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn. Additionally, he helped lead Team USA to a 15-1-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record against international opponents and a 13-13-1 record against college foes. Cassidy also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team that earned the silver medal at the 2007 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship in Tampere and Rauma, Finland.

Cassidy has been both an on-ice instructor and team coach at USA Hockey’s New York district camps and select festivals. In December 2005, he joined Rolston’s staff for the 2006 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Regina, Saskatchewan, where Team USA finished second in the 10-team event.

Prior to joining the NTDP, Cassidy served as the head coach for four seasons at the National Sports Academy in his hometown of Lake Placid, N.Y., where he posted a 124-71-15 record. His teams made the final of the Midwest Prep League playoffs every year in his tenure, and won the league championship in 2004. Cassidy served as an assistant coach at State University of New York at Cortland from 1999-2001 and Potsdam State for the 2001-2002 season.

Sounds like a well qualified coaching staff to me!