Marco Sturm coached Germany to a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Now former fellow players and officials back home will be closely followng his progress as Germany's first NHL coach.

Former NHL players from Germany couldn't say enough about the Boston Bruins' hiring of countryman Marco Sturm as coach Thursday. The 46-year-old, who played for the Bruins from 2005-10, will be the first Germany-born head coach in the NHL and replaces Joe Sacco, who was named interim coach after Jim Montgomery was fired Nov. 19.

Marco Sturm is the first German head coach in the NHL. The 46-year-old succeeds Joe Sacco at the Boston Bruins.