Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is finally getting his chance to coach at the highest level of USA Hockey, as his team will take on Finland Thursday night to open its bid at the 4 Nations Face-off in Montreal.

Bill Guerin's pick to lead USA on the ice was a no-brainer: "Sully is the right guy for this job. And it’s not just because of his resume."

Charlie McAvoy has taken some hits. Oh, not the ones delivered by opponents in the heat of the battle on the ice, although he’s no stranger to those. These fall into the category of friendly fire delivered in the friendly confines of the locker room.

Charlie McAvoy and Mike Sullivan have a strong connection off the ice that goes way beyond hockey. McAvoy is married to Sullivan’s daughter Kiley, who recently gave birth to the couple’s first child.