GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. LATVIA (DEC. 27)

After a wild start to the preliminary round, Canada’s National Junior Team gets right back to action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship when it takes on Latvia in a Minneapolis matinee on Saturday.

Last Game

Canada got off to a winning start Friday night, scoring four goals in the third period to beat Czechia 7-5 in a Group B thriller. Zayne Parekh scored twice for the Canadians, who had leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 4-3 and erased a 3-2 deficit before goals 2:40 apart from Tij Iginla and Ethan MacKenzie early in the final frame finally earned them the three points. MacKenzie and Michael Hage led the offensive charge with a goal and two assists apiece.

The Latvians last saw game action on Monday, when they closed out their pre-tournament schedule with a 3-1 loss to Slovakia in Bemidji, Minnesota. Markuss Sieradzkis opened the scoring on a power play just before the midway mark of the first period, but that would be it for offence. Nils Roberts Maurins went the distance between the pipes for Latvia, making 26 saves.

Last Meeting

Canadian fans don’t need to be reminded of this one. A year ago to the day, Latvia shocked Canada 3-2 in a shootout in front of home fans in Ottawa. Jett Luchanko opened the scoring early in the second period and Calum Ritchie put the Canadians ahead with 5:38 left, but the Latvians battled back and triumphed in an eight-round shootout. Jack Ivankovic became the first 17-year-old Canadian goaltender to start a game since Jimmy Waite in 1987, making 24 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping seven of eight in the shootout.

What to Watch

Parekh reached the 30-goal plateau in each of the last two seasons with the Saginaw Spirit. The only other defenceman in OHL history to achieve that feat? That would be some guy named Bobby Orr. So… not bad company to be in. The Nobleton, Ontario, product showed off those offensive skills against the Czechs, sniping a pair of goals with picture-perfect wrist shots— first to bring Canada even late in the second period and again to temporarily give it the lead early in the third. And let’s stay on the blue line for one more. MacKenzie has twice been passed over in the NHL Draft, but the West Kelowna, B.C., native looked right at home in Canada’s first-round-heavy lineup, helping set up Iginla for the go-ahead goal before burying the eventual game-winner less than three minutes later.

Latvia returns a ton of experience from the team that dropped a one-goal heartbreaker to Sweden in the quarterfinals last year, with 12 players back. That includes four players who played as 16-year-olds in Ottawa: Rudolfs Berzkalns, Martins Klaucans, Olivers Murnieks and Roberts Naudins. Although they combined for just a goal and four assists in five games (and all but a single helper came from Murnieks), the quartet will be leaned upon to lead the offence in Minnesota. Not among that group is arguably the most notable Latvian to watch—6-foot-3 defenceman Alberts Smits, who is pegged as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Smits, who just turned 18 on Dec. 2, has been terrific with Jukerit in the Liiga, the top men’s league in Finland, recording 12 points (6-6—12) in 29 games.

Be There Next Year!

The holiday hockey tradition returns to Canadian ice a year from now when Edmonton and Red Deer host the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship. Fans interested in ticket packages can register until Jan. 6 for the Priority Ticket Draw at HockeyCanada.ca/PriorityDraw.

A Look Back

Prior to the shootout stunner in Ottawa, Canada has controlled the head-to-head history, outscoring the Latvians 41-4 in four wins.

The first-ever matchup, at the 2010 World Juniors in Saskatchewan, provided the most fireworks; in the Boxing Day opener in Saskatoon, Gabriel Bourque tied the Canadian single-game scoring record with seven points (3-4—7), Brandon Kozun added five (2-3—5), and Jordan Eberle, Patrice Cormier, Nazem Kadri and Luke Adam provided two goals apiece in a 16-0 win.

All-time record: Canada leads 4-1 (0-1 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 43
Latvia goals: 7

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (DEC. 26)

The holiday hockey tradition is back for the 50th time as Canada’s National Junior Team gets the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship underway Friday in Minneapolis against a familiar foe in Czechia.

Last Game

Canada cruised to victory in its pre-tournament finale Tuesday, getting five points (2-3—5) from Gavin McKenna in a 13-2 victory over Denmark. McKenna, Tij Iginla and Porter Martone finished with two goals apiece, Zayne Parekh chipped in with a goal and three helpers and the Canadians outshot the Danes 50-10.

Czechia closed out its exhibition schedule with a 2-1 overtime win over Slovakia on Monday night in Bemidji. Tomas Poletin tied the game with 4:37 left in the third period before Max Curran ended it at 2:17 of the extra frame. Michal Orsulak went the distance in the Czech goal, finishing with 22 saves.

Last Meeting

The last time Canada was on the ice at the World Juniors, it was the Czechs at the other end of the ice. One year ago in the quarterfinals in Ottawa, Bradly Nadeau tied the game with 4:18 to go and overtime loomed, but a very late power-play goal by the Czechs—with just 40 seconds remaining—stunned the home crowd and eliminated the Canadians in a 4-3 final.

What to Watch

The Canadian roster includes six returnees, but that’s not the story. For the first time in Program of Excellence history, two of them are goaltenders—Carter George and Jack Ivankovic. George was the unquestioned No. 1 in Ottawa, getting four of the five starts and fashioning a tournament-leading 1.75 goals-against average and .936 save percentage with two shutouts. Ivankovic appeared only once (becoming the first 17-year-old to start a game for Canada since Jimmy Waite in 1987), stopping 24 of 26 in a shootout loss to the Latvians. Neither puck-stopper is a stranger to playing lights-out hockey at the international level; Canada has won gold in each of the last two years at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, and both George (in 2024) and Ivankovic (in 2025) earned Best Goaltender honours and a place on the media all-star team. Both also own gold medals from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and Ivankovic has one more from the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge. So yeah, there isn’t much this duo hasn’t seen or done while wearing the Maple Leaf.

Czechia returns seven players from the team that left the nation’s capital with the bronze medal last year. An eighth, Adam Jecho, a St. Louis Blues third-rounder who broke Canadian hearts with his last-minute goal in the quarterfinals, was injured in a pre-tournament win over Latvia and won’t play in the tournament. The roster also features one player who heard his name called at the 2024 NHL Draft—Adam Jiricek, who was taken at No. 16 by the Blues (and is set for his third World Juniors)—and two selected early in 2025—Radim Mrtka, who went ninth overall to the Buffalo Sabres, and Vaclav Nestrasil, the No. 25 pick by the Chicago Blackhawks. This generation of Czech players has found success on the international stage; in addition to the bronze at the 2025 World Juniors, Czechia won bronze in 2024 and added silver medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023 and 2024.

A Look Back

Although the Czechs have come out on top in the quarterfinals in each of the last two years, the head-to-head history overwhelmingly favours the Canadians.

Since the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Canada has won 21 of the 27 meetings, with another two ending in ties. This will be the fifth time the teams have faced off on Boxing Day—Canada earned wins in 2007 (3-0 behind a 44-save shutout from Jonathan Bernier), 2008 (8-1 led by three points from John Tavares) and 2021 (6-3 thanks to an Owen Power hat trick, although the tournament was cancelled just a few days later), while the Czechs got the win in 2022 (5-2).

All-time record: Canada leads 21-3-2 (1-1 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 123
Czechia goals: 52

TORONTO, Ontario – Powered by TELUS, Hockey Canada has unveiled 27 players who will take part in Canada’s National Junior Team training camp at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario, prior to the start of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

The initial roster, which includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards was selected by National Junior Team general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON ), head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and Mark Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL), U20 lead with the Program of Excellence management group, with input from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations.

Head coach Dale Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL), associate coach Misha Donskov (London, ON), and assistant coaches Brad Lauer (Humboldt, SK/Spokane, WHL) and Gardiner MacDougall (Bedeque, PE/Moncton, QMJHL), as well as goaltending consultant Dan De Palma (Kamloops, BC/Kamloops, WHL), also provided input.

"We are extremely excited to unveil the 27 players who will begin the road to the World Juniors at training camp in Niagara Falls,” said Millar. “This group represents the very best of Canadian junior hockey—skill, speed, sense, character, and a strong commitment to team success and the pride in representing Canada at this prestigious world championship. Our staff has worked tirelessly to identify a roster that embodies the identity we want Canada to play, and we’re confident these athletes are ready for the challenge ahead. This process and team build came with many difficult decisions. We are confident in this group as we begin our preparations for Minneapolis on December 12.”

Hockey Canada will continue to work with National Hockey League (NHL) teams regarding players who are eligible for the IIHF World Junior Championship, and roster additions will be announced as necessary, pending player availability.

Among the 27 players are:

• Six who have made their National Hockey League debuts (Brunicke, Cootes, Luchanko, Martin, Misa, Parekh)
• Six who played at the 2025 World Juniors (Beaudoin, George, Ivankovic, Luchanko, Martone, McKenna)
• Eight who won gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship (Carels, Cootes, Ivankovic, Martin, Reschny, Smith, Verhoeff)
• Eleven who won gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championships (Aitcheson, Beaudoin, Brunicke, Desnoyers, George, Greentree, Iginla, Ivankovic, Luchanko, Martone, McKenna)
• Eight who captured a gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (Desnoyers, Ivankovic, Martin, McKenna, O’Brien, Reschny, Reid, Smith)

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to coach this exceptional group of young men as we head into the World Juniors,” added Dale Hunter . “Our goal is clear—we’re going to Minnesota to compete for a gold medal. I’m excited to get to work, bring this team together and help these players play the kind of fast, disciplined, determined hockey Canadians expect.”

Canada’s National Junior Team will host training camp from Dec. 13-22 in Niagara Falls. It will also face off against Sweden on Dec. 17 and 20 in Kitchener, and London, Ontario, before taking on Denmark on Dec. 23 in Mankato, Minnesota, in pre-tournament action.

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with four games, which includes Canada taking on Czechia at the 3M Arena at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT, with pre-game coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will once again provide extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting all 29 tournament games and Team Canada’s first two pre-tournament games.

For more information on the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit the official tournament website at IIHF.com.

Additionally, hockey fans interested in attending the IIHF World Junior Championship when it returns to Canada next year, can sign up for the 2027 World Junior Priority Draw now for free. With ticket demand expected to exceed availability, the priority draw is the best chance for fans to cheer on Team Canada in Edmonton & Red Deer. Visit HC.ca/PriorityDraw for more information.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

EDMONTON, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), has announced that the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship will be played in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from Dec. 26, 2026 to Jan. 5, 2027.

The successful bid represents a partnership between OEG Sports & Entertainment, the Red Deer Rebels, Hockey Alberta, the Cities of Edmonton and Red Deer, and the Province of Alberta, which made an $11 million commitment in February 2024 to host events in communities throughout the province.

“We are excited to bring the IIHF World Junior Championship back to Edmonton and Red Deer, and to give hockey fans in Alberta and across the country the opportunity to watch the top under-20 players compete for a gold medal right here in Canada,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact with Hockey Canada. “Both cities have been successful hosts of IIHF and other high-profile international events, and we know our partners in Edmonton and Red Deer will host a world-class event for players, teams, fans and volunteers alike.”

The 18,500-seat Rogers Place, home of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers and Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, will serve as the primary competition venue and host 17 games, including both semifinals and the medal games. The additional 14 games are set for the 7,050-seat Marchant Crane Centrium, home of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels.

“Alberta is ready to welcome visitors from around the world for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship,” said Andrew Boitchenko, minister of tourism and sport for Alberta. “This event celebrates the spirit of international competition and our province’s passion for hockey, while showcasing Alberta as a world-class destination for sporting events.”

"Edmonton is thrilled to co-host the IIHF World Junior Championship. This tournament is a fantastic opportunity to watch the world’s best junior hockey players right here in our community, showcasing emerging talent and inspiring a new generation of athletes," said Andrew Knack, mayor of Edmonton. "Hosting world-calibre events like this also injects vital tourism dollars into our local economy, boosts our city's vibrancy, and solidifies Edmonton's reputation as a premiere sports tourism destination."

Edmonton last hosted the IIHF World Junior Championship in August 2022, which was rescheduled from its traditional winter slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gold medal game at the 2022 event was an instant classic, with Mason McTavish making a game-saving play in overtime and Kent Johnson netting the game-winner just over a minute later to give Canada its 19th World Juniors gold medal. The city also hosted in 2021 without fans, and was a co-host with Calgary for the 2012 edition of the event. Red Deer was a co-host for the cancelled 2022 World Juniors, and first hosted the annual under-20 tournament in 1995.

“We are proud to welcome the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship back to our region,” said Jesse Smith, chief executive officer of Tourism Red Deer. “Red Deer’s love for the game and our hospitality will ensure an unforgettable experience for every athlete and fan.”

“The World Juniors give Edmonton an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our city on the world stage,” said Arlindo Gomes, vice-president of business development and venues management with Explore Edmonton. “This event strengthens our global reputation as a premier international sport destination while delivering more than $90 million in total economic impact to our community and inspiring the next generation of hockey players and fans. Edmonton loves hockey and we cannot wait to welcome global athletes and fans.”

Pre-tournament games for the 2027 World Juniors are expected to take place throughout Alberta, allowing fans across the province to watch the best junior hockey players from 10 countries before the puck officially drops in Edmonton and Red Deer on Boxing Day.

With demand for tickets expected to exceed availability, more information about a priority ticket draw and tournament ticket packages will be announced in the coming months. Fans looking to receive updates about the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship as soon as they become available can sign up to become a Hockey Canada Insider today.

“On behalf of all of us at OEG Sports & Entertainment, we are proud to once again be hosting the IIHF World Junior Championship and the best young stars on the planet,” said Stu Ballantyne, president and chief operating officer of Rogers Place and ICE District. “The World Juniors is one of the most celebrated tournaments in hockey, and bringing it back to Edmonton is an honour for our city, our fans and our entire organization. ICE District and Rogers Place were built to facilitate and showcase the very best in sport and entertainment, and we look forward to working closely with Hockey Canada and other partners to deliver an unforgettable experience for the athletes, fans and the global hockey community.”

"We are beyond excited for our fans, partners and community to once again welcome the hockey world to Red Deer,” said Merrick Sutter, senior vice-president of the Red Deer Rebels. “This is a community that loves events, and we know their passion will be on full display once again next December."

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that the road to the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, will begin with training camp at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Dec. 12-22.

Canada’s National Junior Team will take part in a camp that will lead into a three-game pre-tournament schedule ahead of the World Juniors. Dates and locations for the games will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to host the National Junior Team training camp at a world-class facility like the Gale Centre in the Niagara Region,” said Benoit Roy, director of hockey operations. “The staff and community have gone above and beyond to make us feel welcome and supported every step of the way, and we look forward to the next phase in our preparation for the World Juniors in Minnesota.”

“Our management group and coaching staff are excited to finalize the plans for training camp in Niagara Falls, in preparation for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship,” added Alan Millar, general manager of the National Junior Team. “Our group is moving forward without the traditional December selection camp, bringing a smaller group of players to Ontario and prioritizing preparation over further player evaluation and selection. We remain committed in our goal to be best prepared for Boxing Day and bringing a gold medal back to Canada.”

All of Canada’s practices and game-day skates during training camp will be open to the public, on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We are thrilled to welcome Canada’s National Junior Team to our community and our facilities,” added Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara Falls. “Our staff have worked tirelessly to prepare our facilities to meet all the needs of Team Canada, and we know our minor hockey community and fans from around the region will provide the warmest of welcomes to Canada’s players and staff this December.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook , X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the 44 players who have been invited to the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, set for July. 27- Aug. 2 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Four goaltenders, 12 defencemen and 20 forwards will take part in practices, scrimmages and a trio of exhibition games against Finland, Sweden and the United States in preparation for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26–Jan. 5 in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The camp roster features seven players who are eligible to return from Canada’s 2025 National Junior Team (Dickinson, George, Ivankovic, Luchanko, McKenna, Martone, Schaefer) and 22 players who have won gold at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship (Aitcheson, Beaudoin, Brunicke, Cootes, Desnoyers, Gill, George, Greentree, Iginla, Ivankovic, Josephson, Luchanko, Martin, Martone, McKenna, McQueen, Mews, Reschny, Ritchie, Schaefer, Spence, Wetsch). 

The player selection process was led by Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), general manager of the Program of Excellence, alongside Program of Excellence head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and Mark Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL), U20 lead with the POE management group. Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president, high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations, also provided input. 

“We're thrilled to bring together 36 of the top young players from across Canada for the Summer Showcase,” said Millar. “This is an incredible opportunity for these players to compete at the highest level, build chemistry and show what they can bring to the national team. With the 2026 World Juniors on the horizon, this is a crucial step in building a championship-caliber group.”

The players will be split into two teams – Red and White – for practices and an intrasquad game on July 29, before taking on Finland July 30, Sweden on Aug. 1 and the United States on Aug. 2.

Every game at the World Junior Summer Showcase will be livestreamed at USAHockeyTV.com (subscription required).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the coaching and support staffs that will represent Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, this December.

Head Coach Dale Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL) will be joined by associate coach Misha Donskov (London, ON), assistant coaches Brad Lauer (Humboldt, SK/Spokane, WHL) and Gardiner MacDougall (Bedeque, PE/Moncton, QMJHL), goaltending coach Dan De Palma (Kamloops, BC/Kamloops, WHL) and video coach Ethan O’Rourke (Bowmanville, ON/Kingston, OHL), with additional support from James Emery (Calgary, AB), Hockey Canada's director of performance analysis.

The coaches and support staff were selected by newly appointed Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON) and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, with input from director of hockey operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON) and Mark Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL) U20 lead with the Program of Excellence management group.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Misha, Brad, Gardiner, Dan and Ethan to the coaching staff for the World Juniors,” said Millar. “Each coach brings a winning pedigree at the National Hockey League, Canadian Hockey League and IIHF levels. We believe this is an exceptionally well-rounded staff that will provide our players with an opportunity to be successful in Minnesota.”

Donskov was recently named Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations and men’s national teams coach after completing his second season as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. The London, Ontario, native spent parts of four seasons as an assistant coach (2020-23) with the Vegas Golden Knights, winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. Before joining the Golden Knights coaching staff, he was the team’s director of hockey operations for four seasons (2016-20). Internationally, Donskov has been part of several successful Canadian teams, including championships as an assistant coach at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also won gold at two IIHF World Championships (2015, 2016) and one IIHF World Junior Championship (2015) as manager of hockey operations, analytics and video, and won the 2019 Spengler Cup as director of hockey operations and assistant coach, as well as the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament as video coach.

Lauer recently completed his first season as head coach of the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL), leading the team to the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions for the first time since 2008. He also served as head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings for four seasons (2018-22), winning the WHL championship (2022) and the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL coach of the year (2019-20), and was an assistant with the Kootenay Ice for five seasons (2002-07). Lauer was also an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets (2022-24), Tampa Bay Lightning (2015-18), Anaheim Ducks (2012-15) and Ottawa Senators (2009-11), as well an assistant with the Syracuse Crunch (2011-12) and Milwaukee Admirals (2007-09) of the American Hockey League.

MacDougall recently completed his first season as head coach of the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), leading the team to a 53-win season and the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as QMJHL champions. Previously, he led the University of New Brunswick men’s hockey team to a perfect 43-0 season in 2023-24 as the Reds defended their University Cup title. The perfect season included win No. 600 for MacDougall, who was also named U SPORTS coach of the year for the third time (2009-10, 2014-15, 2023-24). He spent 24 seasons behind the Reds’ bench, leading the team to nine national championships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024). Under his leadership, the Reds won 11 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) titles and made 16 national championship appearances. Internationally, he led Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship. In 2023, he was named head coach for the FISU University Games, leading Team Canada to a gold medal, one season after briefly taking the reins as head coach of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs and leading the host team to a Memorial Cup championship.

De Palma is entering his 19th season as the goaltending coach for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. He began his coaching career with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars in 2006 and spent three seasons in northern British Columbia before joining the Blazers. De Palma has won two IIHF U18 World Championship gold medals (2024, 2025) as a goaltending coach, as well as a gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also served as the goaltending coach at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, as well as for Team Canada Black at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

O’Rourke is entering his fifth season with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He spent his first two years in Kingston as video coach before he was promoted to assistant general manager midway through the 2022-23 season. He has represented Canada twice as a video coach, once with Team Canada Red at the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, winning a gold medal. He began his career with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in 2019 as a regional scout.

The support staff that will work with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship includes:

• Equipment managers Chris Cook (Ottawa, ON/Brantford, OHL) and Chris Maton (London, ON/London, OHL)
• Athletic therapists Kyle Sutton (New Glasgow, NS/UQTR, OUA) and Terence Robertson (Red Deer, AB/Red Deer, WHL)
• Team physician Michael Conrad (Vancouver, BC/Victoria, WHL)
• Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, ON/Ottawa, OHL)
  
• Mental performance consultant Lucas Madill (Kirkland, QC)
• Hockey operations coordinator Jared Power (Calgary, AB)
• Media relations coordinator Branden Crowe (Virden, MB)

Canada’s National Junior Team will begin preparations for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at the World Junior Summer Showcase, July 27-Aug. 2 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they will be joined Finland, Sweden and the United States.

Additional support staff that will work with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase includes:

• Hockey operations manager Mitchell Furlotte (Ottawa, ON)
• Hockey operations coordinator Miah Armitage (Creston, BC)
  
• Hockey operations student Cameron Lattemore (Calgary, AB)

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the four Canadian Hockey League (CHL) general managers that will comprise the Program of Excellence (POE) management group for the 2025-26 season.

Mike Johnston (Dartmouth, NS/Portland, WHL) makes his POE management group debut, guiding the under-17 program through the 2025 U17 World Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia, while Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QC/Drummondville, QMJHL) returns for his second-consecutive year to lead the under-18 program. Dave Brown (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON/Erie, OHL) will also join the POE management group in an advisory role, providing overall support to all three programs through the 2025-26 season. Johnston, Lemay and Brown join Mark Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL), who was recently announced as the management group lead for Canada’s National Junior Team.

The management group was selected by Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations.

“Mike, Yanick, Mark and Dave will provide a wealth of knowledge throughout our Program of Excellence from their vast Canadian Hockey League and international experience,” said Millar. “We are tremendously grateful for their commitment to Hockey Canada’s under-17, under-18 and under-20 programs and are looking forward to their contributions to Canada’s success in international play this season.”

Johnston served as an assistant coach for Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and has been senior vice-president and general manager of the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for 13 seasons (2009-12, 2013-14, 2016-25). He recently stepped down as head coach after 12 seasons (2009-12, 2013-14, 2016-24), winning U.S. Division Executive of the Year and Coach of the Year awards in 2023-24. Johnston is one of just 11 head coaches in WHL history to win 500 games and he led the Winterhawks to seven-consecutive 40-win seasons. He has also served as an assistant (1999-2003) and associate coach (2003-04) with the Vancouver Canucks, an associate coach with the Los Angeles Kings (2005-08) and head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins (2014-16). Johnston coached Canada’s National Men’s Team from 1994-99, winning two gold medals (1997, 2007), two silver (1996, 2008) and one bronze (1995) at the IIHF World Championship. He also won gold at three IIHF World Junior Championships (1994, 1995, 1996) as an assistant coach, was an assistant at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games and head coach at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship, and won the Spengler Cup in 1993.

Lemay returns to the POE management group for the second-straight season, leading the under-18 program, after helping guide Canada White and Canada Red to gold and silver, respectively, at the 2024 U17 World Challenge. He is entering his third season as general manager of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Last season, Lemay helped the Voltigeurs to an 86-point season and finished atop the QMJHL Central Division. Prior to joining Drummondville, he served as an amateur scout with the Winnipeg Jets for 12 seasons (2011-23), was head scout of the QMJHL’s Junior de Montréal for three seasons (2008-11) and spent 10 seasons with the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles as a scout (1998-2002) and head scout (2002-08).

Brown returns to the POE management group for a third-straight season after helping lead Canada to gold medals at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, and assisting Canada White to gold at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He is currently in his eleventh season (2015-25) as general manager of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after serving four seasons (2011-15) as director of hockey operations with the team. He helped lead Erie to an OHL championship in 2017 and contributed to a CHL record of four-consecutive 50-win seasons (2011-15). Prior to joining the Otters, Brown spent seven seasons with the Mississauga/Niagara IceDogs, serving as assistant general manager (2003-05) and general manager (2005-10).

The management group will work alongside Salmond, Millar, Roy and POE head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB), as well as the organization’s hockey operations staff. Day-to-day operations for the POE management group include assisting in coach and player selections, supporting the coaching staffs and providing input during camps and tournaments throughout the season.

The Program of Excellence is overseen by Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer; Misha Donskov (Montréal, QC), vice-president of hockey operations and men’s national teams coach; Salmond; Millar; Roy; Dan MacKenzie (Guelph, ON), CHL president; Bryan Crawford (Hamilton, ON), OHL commissioner; Mario Cecchini (Saint-Lambert, QC), QMJHL commissioner; and Dan Near (Markham, ON), WHL commissioner.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta –Hockey Canada has announced that three-time Memorial Cup champion and 2020 World Juniors gold medalist Dale Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL)has been named head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

In addition, Mark Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL) will serve as a member of the management group.

The Hunters were selected by newly appointed Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON) and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, with input from Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON) , the organization’s director of hockey operations.

“The first order of business for myself and Scott was to find the best coach possible to lead our National Junior Team,” said Millar. “Dale’s résumé speaks for itself: three Memorial Cups, three OHL Coach of the Year awards and two international gold medals. His passion for this program runs deep, and we feel he is the best candidate to lead us to a gold medal in Minnesota.”

In his role on the management group, Mark will assist Millar, Salmond and Roy with all hockey operations-related matters, including supporting the player evaluation and selection process.

“Mark led Canada to a World Juniors gold medal in 2020 and has built one of the premier franchises in the Canadian Hockey League, with unparalleled on-ice success and player advancement,” said Salmond. “Alan and Mark provide a stable backbone for our National Junior Team and I’m confident they will build a staff and roster that Canadians can be proud of come December.”

Dale Hunter began his coaching career with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2001 and has held that role for the last 24 seasons, save for 60 games as head coach of the Washington Capitals in 2011-12. Under Hunter, the Knights have won five OHL championships (2005, 2013, 2016, 2024, 2025) and three Memorial Cup championships (2005, 2016, 2025). Hunter has also been named OHL Coach of the Year three times (2003-04, 2004-05, 2009-10) and earned the CHL’s Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award in 2003-04. In addition to his 2020 World Juniors gold, he coached Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2014 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Hunter played 1,409 NHL games with the Capitals, Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche from 1980-99, recording 1,020 points (323-697—1020). He ranks second in NHL history with 3,565 penalty minutes and is the only player to record over 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes.

Mark Hunter has served in various roles for the franchise over the last 25 years, including owner (2000-25), vice-president of hockey operations (2000-25), general manager (2000-14, 2018-25) and head coach (2011-12). In that span, the Knights have captured six OHL championships (2005, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2024, 2025) and three Memorial Cup championships (2005, 2016, 2025). In 2014, Hunter was named director of player personnel with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a position he held for one season (2014-15) before he was promoted to assistant general manager (2015-18). Hunter played 12 NHL seasons (1981-93) with stops in Montreal, St. Louis, Calgary, Hartford and Washington, winning a Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989. Upon his retirement, he spent four seasons (1995-97, 1998-2000) as head coach of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting and one season (1997-98) as head coach of the St. John’s Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Hockey Canada will announce the remainder of the National Junior Team coaching and support staffs in the coming weeks along with additions to the Program of Excellence management group, as well as the coaching staffs, support staffs and rosters for the under-17 and under-18 programs.

Canada’s National Junior Team will begin preparations for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at the World Junior Summer Showcase, July 27-Aug. 2 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, joining Finland, Sweden and the United States.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook , X, Instagram and TikTok.