USA Hockey hired former Michigan Wolverine Kevin Porter (Northville) as a head coach for the National Team Development Program.

Porter will serve as head coach of the NTDP U18 team for the 2026-27 season. He replaces Greg Moore, whose contract was not renewed.

Porter is a former NTDP captain, who played 12 seasons of pro hockey, including 249 games in the NHL. He just finished his second season as an assistant coach at the NTDP.

“Kevin is a leader by nature and brings a passion to help young players grow on and off the ice,” said Scott Monaghan, assistant executive director of USA Hockey for the NTDP and USA Hockey Arena. “He is a terrific communicator and teacher and we’re excited to have him as a head coach within our program.”

This past August, Porter served as head coach of the U.S. entry in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he led Team USA to its first title since 2004 and only second ever.

Porter also served four seasons as an assistant coach for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the American Hockey League where he helped lead the Penguins to a pair of Calder Cup playoff appearances.

As a player, Porter won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as captain at the University of Michigan in 2007-08, and he won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016.

A four-year captain in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, Porter also served as captain of Team USA for the 2006 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and helped the U.S. to a silver medal at the 2004 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.

Canadiens can advance with Saturday win

The task facing the Buffalo Sabres is not easy, but it is straightforward.

The Sabres must drum up a win when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday or their season is over.

The Canadiens lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-2 with a chance to close it out in front of their frenzied home faithful. The Sabres head to Montreal with a chance to spoil that party and then have t…