 Former Boston Bruins ' coach Harry Sinden , who had been out of hockey since leaving the Bruins in 1970 , was suggested by the media as a good candidate for the job of Team Canada 's coach . Ron Brown , a sportswriter from Kingston , Ontario called Sinden and in the interview , Sinden admitted that he was available and willing to take the position . After a phone call from Sinden to Alan Eagleson , it was arranged for Sinden to have an interview with Hockey Canada 's steering committee for the series in June . After the one interview , Hockey Canada selected Sinden for the position . Sinden selected former player John Ferguson as his assistant coach , after initially trying to recruit Ferguson as a player . 
