World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Finland

CALGARY, Alta. – With lower than two months till the puck drops on the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada has named the employees that can lead Canada’s National Junior Team in its gold medal defence in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B.

After serving to Canada to a gold medal on the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant coach, Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL) returns to take the reins as head coach. He might be joined by assistant coaches Stéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Brent Kisio (Calgary, Alta./Lethbridge, WHL) and Alan Letang (Renfrew, Ont./Sarnia, OHL), in addition to goaltending guide Kelly Guard (Prince Albert, Sask./Prince Albert, WHL) and video coach James Emery (Calgary, Alta.).

The teaching employees was chosen by Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of participant personnel, James Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL), who returns because the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence administration group after serving to assemble the workforce that received gold on the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, and Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations.

“We are thrilled to welcome back Dennis and James Boyd following a gold medal at the 2022 World Juniors to help bring momentum and consistency from our success in the summer,” mentioned Millar. “We are also excited to welcome Stéphane, Brent, Alan, Kelly and James Emery, as each coach brings a wealth of experience and success from the Canadian Hockey League and international levels. We believe we have assembled a world-class coaching staff that will play a large part in defending our gold medal on the East Coast starting next month.”

Williams is in his sixth season as head coach of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL), including the final supervisor title to his tasks in July 2021. He has led the Silvertips to 4 U.S. Division titles, three Western Conference common season titles and a Western Conference playoff championship. He has been named WHL Western Conference Coach of the Year twice (2017-18, 2019-20) and U.S. Division Coach of the Year as soon as (2021-22). In addition to his gold medal on the 2022 World Juniors, Williams received a silver medal as an assistant with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team on the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He additionally served as head coach of Team Canada Black on the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Julien most just lately led Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team as head coach, successful a gold medal on the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is presently in his third season as head coach and normal supervisor of the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Julien was beforehand the pinnacle coach for components of 5 seasons (2016-20) earlier than including the final supervisor title, and served as an assistant coach for 4 seasons (2012-15). He was additionally an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team on the 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship and head coach of Team Canada Black on the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

Kisio is in his eighth season as head coach of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. Prior to becoming a member of the Hurricanes, he spent eight seasons as an assistant coach (2007-15) and assistant normal supervisor (2014-15) with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, serving to lead the workforce to a WHL championship in 2010. Internationally, he served as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team on the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, received a gold medal as head coach on the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, received a silver medal as an assistant with Team Pacific on the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and served as head coach of Team Canada White on the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Letang was an assistant coach on Julien’s employees with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that received gold on the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer time. He is in his second season as head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and beforehand spent 5 seasons with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack as an assistant coach (2016-19) and head coach (2019-20). Letang additionally received a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team on the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The help employees that can work with Canada’s National Junior Team on the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship consists of:

• Athletic therapists Kevin Elliott (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) and Andy Brown (Owen Sound, Ont./Owen Sound, OHL)
• Team doctor Dr. R.J. Mackenzie (Albert Bridge, N.S./Cape Breton, QMJHL)
• Equipment managers Gord Cochran (Williams Lake, B.C./Regina, WHL) and Chris Cook (Ottawa, Ont./Hamilton, OHL)
• Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, Ont./Ottawa, OHL)
• Mental efficiency guide Luke Madill (Kirkland, Que.)
• Manager of hockey operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.)
• Senior coordinator of hockey operations Natalie Gerstmar (Calgary, Alta.)
• Coordinator of hockey operations Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, Man.)
• Security liaison Bob Martin (London, Ont./London, OHL)
• Media relations supervisor Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, Ont.)

“The coaching and support staff for Canada’s National Junior Team is a well-rounded, experienced group that have been integral to the recent success of Hockey Canada’s national teams,” mentioned Salmond. “We know these individuals will play a major role in the success of our team at the World Juniors, and we look forward to the opportunity to once again compete for a gold medal on home ice in Halifax and Moncton.”

Canada’s National Junior Team will collect on the Avenir Centre in Moncton for a four-day choice camp, Dec. 9-12, earlier than choosing a closing roster forward of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The choice camp roster might be introduced within the coming weeks.

For extra data on Hockey Canada and the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, please go to HockeyCanada.ca, or observe alongside by way of social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.