Northeastern University Athletics

Northeastern men's ice hockey alumnus David Poile has been named general manager of the 2014 United States Olympic men's hockey team, USA Hockey announced on Friday. He will be formally introduced at a press conference on Saturday in New York City.

"Being chosen for this position is a tremendous honor," said Poile. "When you get to represent your country, it's a special feeling. I look forward to working with our management team in fulfilling our ultimate goal of bringing home the gold medal."

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero will be Poile's associate general manager, and former Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke was named director of player development, according to the release.

"We couldn't be more pleased than to have David as our general manager," said Ron DeGregorio president of USA Hockey. "He continues to have a remarkable management career in the National Hockey League and the vast experience and expertise he brings to the table will serve us well in our goal to bring the gold medal back to the United States."

The 2014 Winter Olympics will take place in Sochi, Russia, from Feb. 7 to Feb. 23, 2014.

"With David, Ray, Brian and Jim Johannson, our assistant executive director of hockey operations, we have a management team in place that has the wide array of experience necessary at the Olympic level," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "It's an all-star cast that our country can feel very good about in leading Team USA into Sochi."

Poile, who has served as general manager of the Nashville Predators since their inaugural NHL season in 1998, was Burke's assistant GM of the 2010 Olympic team that earned a silver medal in Vancouver. Poile also served as general manager of the U.S. teams that competed in the 1998 and 1999 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships.

During his time in Nashville, Poile has led the Predators to seven playoff appearances. Nashville has twice made the postseason in three consecutive seasons under Poile's guidance, including from 2006 to 2008 and 2010 to 2012.

Prior to his role in Nashville, Poile began as an assistant with the Atlanta Flames in 1972, and in 1977 he was named the organization's assistant general manager. He was hired as GM of the Washington Capitals in 1982, when he was just 33 years old, and served in that capacity for 15 years, guiding the Capitals to a 594-454-124 record.

Poile played three seasons of varsity hockey at Northeastern from 1967 to 1970, tallying 82 goals and 36 assists and earning the team's Most Valuable Player distinction in two of his three seasons. He is 26th on the Northeastern all-time scoring list with 118 points, and he still holds the program record for hat tricks with 11. He was inducted into the Northeastern Hall of Fame in 1987.