Oilers video coach joins Swedish staff for World Juniors

Maybe, when they see his name on the roster, people might think Jason Pietrzykowski is Swedish on his mother's side.

But, no, there's not a Swede or a Scandinavian anywhere in his family background.

From now through Jan. 5, however, the Edmonton Oilers video coach is an official member of the Team Sweden coaching staff at the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

Pietrzykowski will join the Covid-19-depleted Swedish staff and the coronavirus positive-weakened Tre Kronor team that will fly here Sunday, sharing a charter with Finland and Russia.

The Swedes, including Oilers first-round draft prospect Philip Broberg, will check into the J.W. Marriott and Ice District bubble through to Dec. 18, when they'll be allowed to emerge to practice at Rogers Place.

While Sweden plays in the other pool in the tournament, it will play Canada in a Dec. 21 pre-tournament game televised on TSN.

Jason Pietrzykowski? Never heard of this guy?

You thought Jeremy Coupal was the Oilers video coach? Well, yes. Coupal remains employed by the Oilers heading into a fourth season.

Pietrzykowski is an interesting guy. He has a full-time job at Weatherford, the international oilpatch giant, and is also the Oilers assistant video coach during the season.

“I've worked for Weatherford Canada in the supply works chain for 10 years and I've been with the Oilers just as long. So, I've pretty much had two jobs full time since then,” said the 32-year-old.

Pietrzykowski has been to Sweden. Once. For four days. That was with the Oilers in Goteborg two years ago.

“The coaching staff all speak English,” he said.

If Sweden wins a gold medal, coach Pietrzykowski figures he'll get one.

Friday, the Swedes announced Joel Ronnmark will coach the team in Edmonton, replacing Tomas Monten.

Monten is not able to travel to Edmonton due to a positive test, along with assistant coach Anders Lundberg, goaltender coach Nizze Landen and video coach Adam Almqvist.

The sidelined staff and adviser Todd Woodcroft will support the on-site staff remotely.

Woodcroft was responsible for getting Pietrzykowski the gig.

“Todd is Jay Woodcroft's brother,” Pietrzykowski said of the former Oilers assistant coach, now head coach of Edmonton's American Hockey League farm club, the Bakersfield Condors.

“Todd has worked for Sweden for the last several years in different capacities. That's how it came together.”

Ronnmark, 30, is head coach of the Vaxco Lakers under-18 team. In his third year with the world junior team, he's the one guy who didn't test positive.

Ronnmark will be joined in Edmonton by Anders Eriksen as assistant coach. Eriksen, a

U-18 national team coach, was with the team in camp in Sweden this week but originally not scheduled to make the trip to Canada.

Four players from the original roster, including star William Eklund, were also not able to join the team in Edmonton. The others were Karl Henriksson, William Wallinder and Albin Grewe. The remaining 32 players have all continued to test negative.

“They were in a tough situation,” said Pietrzykowski.

“They had the positive tests and there are obviously rules involving the IIHF and the Alberta government and the date that they could no longer add anyone to your travel group.”

So, how does a person get hired with the Oilers as an assistant video coach in the first place?

“When I was going to the University of Alberta, there was an internship posted on the Oilers website to work in the player development department. I was coaching peewee hockey at the time and I applied for it.

“I started the year that Pat Quinn and Tom Renney came. That's when Miles Fee started with the team as video coach. He'd been with Renney in New York. He needed help.”

Pietrzykowski didn't think twice when the Swedes called.

“They needed help. I'm happy to help," he said. “It'll be a great experience for me and at the same time, I kind of recognize their situation and I'm happy to do it.”

Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said the Swedes have made a good move.

“Jason is a smart young guy that knows the game and knows how to work the equipment. He'll do a great job for them.”

Being on the coaching staff of a gold medal-winning world junior team would look pretty good on his resume.

“The goalie is very good and, obviously, Broberg is going to be a big part of this team,” Pietrzykowski said. “It'll be interesting. You never know.”

Pietrzykowski has decided he wants a career in hockey.

“I'm trying to build toward a management role,” he said. “That's my goal. I want to be a general manager at some point.”