GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWITZERLAND (JAN. 10)

Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team starts defence of its gold medal on home ice as it faces off against Switzerland to open the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre on Saturday night.

Last Game

Canada had a pre-tournament tune-up in Halifax, shutting out Finland 11-0 on Wednesday. Hayley McDonald led the way with a hat trick and an assist on her birthday, while Sofia Ismael and Rachel Piggott chipped in with a goal and two assists each. Overall, eight players scored as Canada piled up 57 shots on goal, with Léa-Rose Charrois making three saves in the opening 40 minutes before Rowan Houweling entered the game to make five saves and secure the combined shutout.

Switzerland played its lone pre-tournament game at Cape Breton University in Sydney on Tuesday night, falling 2-1 to Sweden in overtime. Jill Baker scored the lone goal for the Swiss, who were outshot 37-17.

Last Meeting

These two teams last met in the preliminary round of last year’s tournament in Finland, with Canada beating Switzerland 5-1. Dorothy Copetti led the charge with a pair of goals as the Canadians took control with a four-goal second period. Sara Manness scored and added an assist, while Maxine Cimoroni chipped in with two helpers.

What to Watch

Nine players who won gold in Finland last year are back to play for Team Canada (Ismael, Alida Korte, Anaïs Leprohon, Maddie McCullough, McDonald, Piggott, Caileigh Tiller, Rosalie Tremblay and Kate Viel), which is tied with the 2024 team for the most returnees in a single year. And the bulk of that group weren’t fringe contributors to gold a year ago in Vantaa; Tiller—who will play with her twin sister Chelsea in Cape Breton—finished tied for second in Canadian scoring with 10 points (4-6—10) and scored the game-winning goal in the gold medal game, McDonald, who will wear the ‘C’, had seven points (4-3—7) and Viel chipped in five (1-4—5) from the back end. And not to look too far ahead, but Canada could have as many as seven players back for the 2027 tournament.

Laure Meriguet is set to become the 23rd player to appear in four U18 Women’s Worlds—and the 13th from Switzerland. The defender was a minute-muncher last year, playing 25:44 a game—second-most among all players behind only teammate Sonja Inkamp—to help the Swiss to a fifth-place finish—their best-ever placement at the tournament. Meriguet recorded a goal and an assist in four games in 2025. The 17-year-old also made her IIHF Women’s World Championship debut last spring, tallying an assist in six games. And she has more international duty on tap for February—Meriguet was named to the Swiss women’s Olympic team on Wednesday.

A Pod of Dolphins

For the second year in a row, there are six members of the Etobicoke Dolphins U22 Elite team representing Canada: Ismael, McCullough, Adrianna Milani, Megan Mossey, Piggott and Maija St-Pierre. Since the inaugural U18 Women’s Worlds in 2008, no team has been represented more than Etobicoke, with 31 players on Team Canada in tournament history. This is the seventh consecutive tournament that a Dolphin has competed at the tournament (2019-2026), two off the all-time record of nine (Mississauga, 2011-2019).

A Look Back

This is only the sixth meeting between the Canadians and Swiss, and the fifth to come in the prelims. Canada is perfect through the first five, outscoring Switzerland 49-4.

The first matchup came at the 2009 tournament in Germany; Casandra Langan made history in that one, becoming the first Canadian to score four goals in a game as part of a 16-1 win. Jamie Lee Rattray added a hat trick of her own, while Jessica Wong chipped in with two goals and an assist.

All-time record: Canada leads 5-0
Canada goals: 49
Switzerland goals: 4

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the pre-tournament schedule ahead of the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, set for Jan. 10-18 in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia.

Five games will take place in four communities over three days ahead of the U18 Women’s Worlds. Slovakia and Hungary will play a pair of games on Jan. 5-6 at Canlan Sports in North York, Ontario, while the Nova Scotia portion of the pre-tournament schedule kicks off with Sweden and Switzerland facing off at the Kehoe Forum in Sydney on Jan. 6. On Jan. 7, Czechia will match up against the United States at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth, and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will wrap up the final day of pre-tournament action against Finland at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.

In partnership with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Province of Nova Scotia, Hockey Canada has also announced that fans will have the chance to experience the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship through several different community initiatives, with a focus on growing and sustaining participation in women’s and girls’ hockey, as well as Indigenous engagement.

“The IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship is quickly approaching, and we are excited to unveil the pre-tournament schedule and continue to build excitement for the event before the competing teams kick off the tournament on Jan. 10,” said D’Arcy Hutcheson, director of events for Hockey Canada. “We are also thrilled that fans in the community and throughout the province will have the opportunity to get involved in the event through several impactful initiatives that will leave a lasting legacy on women’s and girls’ hockey, and the community as a whole.”

Women’s and girls’ hockey initiatives

Hockey Canada, in collaboration with Hockey Nova Scotia, will also host several development activities for women and girls in the lead up to and during the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

Coaching developments clinics will be hosted Jan. 4 in Halifax and Jan. 5 in Sydney in partnership with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), which are open to Hockey Nova Scotia-registered coaches.

In collaboration with local Indigenous communities, Hockey Canada and Hockey Nova Scotia will offer an experiential opportunity to a select number of identified emerging high-performance Indigenous coaches, who will receive practical coaching experience by shadowing coaching staffs of competing teams during the pre-tournament phase.

A Signature Esso Fun Day will take place in Eskasoni First Nation on Jan. 14, in partnership with the Cape Breton Blizzard, providing new-to-hockey participants a chance to learn basic skills in a fun and positive environment at no cost to girls of all ages who are playing the game for the first time. Bauer, the official equipment provider to Team Canada, will donate equipment to participants, while National Women’s Team alumna Victoria Bach will be a special guest.

On Jan. 16, Cape Breton University will host the Equity in Coaching Conference, which features research and academic presentations, as well as presentations from Hockey Canada and the IIHF, with a keynote address from Bach.

Indigenous engagement

Hockey Canada has partnered with the Membertou First Nation to integrate Indigenous elements into all facets of the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

Through the Membertou First Nation, 1,000 tickets will be made available to local Indigenous community organizations, schools, councils and more, to provide community members the opportunity to attend games.

The players of the game will be presented with a handmade beaded mayflower, Nova Scotia’s provincial flower, designed by local Indigenous artisans Andrea Dennis and Rosalee Doucette. Additionally, a special flag designed by Kierra Marshall that represents the Membertou First Nation will be featured in all pre-game ceremonies.

There will also be a one-of-a-kind Team Canada jersey featured throughout the event that was designed in collaboration with the Membertou First Nation, Michael MacMillan of the Ability Collective and Deana Lloy of Red Label Kilts, and celebrates the Mi’kmaq community, Cape Breton’s nature and culture, and the classic tartan of Nova Scotia.

First-game program for New Canadians

Two-hundred tickets for games throughout the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship will be donated to local settlement agencies to encourage new Canadians to attend their first hockey game as a way to introduce them to the sport. Tickets will be donated to new Canadians through the Cape Breton Partnership, Cape Breton Island Centre for Immigration, YMCA Immigrant Services and the Multicultural Association of Cape Breton.

In addition, the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship will feature a clothing and toiletries drive at all Team Canada games in support of Nadine’s Comfort Closet, a program that provides students at local schools with essentials such as socks, winter attire and personal hygiene products. The event will also feature an expanded recycling and food recovery program to support sustainability in the local community.

The 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship was awarded to Sydney and Membertou in April 2025 following a successful bid between Hockey Nova Scotia, the Province of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Membertou First Nation and Cape Breton Blizzard Female Hockey Association.

Fans looking to secure their seats and SEE THEE RISE can purchase a variety of ticket options at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

For more information on the IIHF, please visit the official tournament site, or follow the IIHF on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 25 players who will wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Jan. 10-18 in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia.

Three goaltenders, eight defence and 14 forwards were selected by Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting, along with head coach Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA) and assistant coaches Marc-André Côté (Montreal, QC/University of Moncton, AUS) and Amanda Benoit-Wark (Welland, ON/Ridley College, OWHA U22 Elite). Goaltending coach Sheldon Goertzen (Saskatoon, SK/University of Saskatchewan, CW) also provided input, in addition to seven regional scouts.

Included among the 25 players are nine who won gold at the 2025 U18 Women’s Worlds (Ismael, Korte, Leprohon, McCullough, McDonald, Piggott, Caileigh Tiller, Tremblay, Viel) and 21 who wore the Maple Leaf during a three-game series against the United States in August (Charrois, Doiron, Houweling, Hughson, Ismael, Jones, Korte, Leprohon, MacKinnon, Maechtel, Matt, McCullough, McDonald, Mossey, Milani, Piggott, Sisson, Caileigh Tiller, Chelsea Tiller, Tremblay, Viel).

“The coaching staff is incredibly excited to work with this committed group of young athletes. We will continue to build on the qualities we feel necessary to be successful on the international stage,” Sunohara said. “With a strong mix of returning veterans and new additions, we have a team ready to represent Canada with pride as we prepare to compete for gold on home ice.”

Canada is in Group A with Hungary, Sweden and Switzerland, while Group B includes Czechia, Finland, Slovakia and the United States. Canada opens the tournament against Switzerland on Jan. 10 at 8:30 p.m. AT and will face Hungary on Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. AT before its preliminary-round finale against Sweden on Jan. 13 at 5 p.m. AT. Prior to the tournament, Canada will gather in Halifax for a brief training camp, details of which will follow in the coming weeks.

“We are incredibly proud of all 25 athletes named to Canada’s National Under-18 Women’s Team for the upcoming world championship,” Piper said. “These players represent the immense talent in Canada and are the building blocks for Canada’s National Women’s Team. We are confident in this group’s ability to represent Canada with our goal of defending gold in Cape Breton in January.”

Canada will look capture back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship for the first time since 2022 and 2023; it has won eight gold medals (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025), seven silver (2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020) and two bronze (2018, 2024).|

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will provide exclusive live coverage of the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, delivering all Team Canada games, in addition to both semifinals and medal games; please check local listings for details.

Fans looking to secure their seats and SEE THEE RISE can purchase medal-round ticket packages and single-game tickets at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

SYDNEY & MEMBERTOU, Nova Scotia – Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) have announced the schedule for the 2026 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship, set for Jan. 10-18 in Sydney and Membertou.

“We are excited to announce the schedule for the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship as Cape Breton prepares to welcome the world,” said D’Arcy Hutcheson, director of events with Hockey Canada. “This tournament will be a remarkable celebration of women’s hockey, and we are committed to ensuring that the impact of hosting a world championship will benefit the local communities leading up to, during and after the action on the ice.”

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will begin defence of its 2025 gold medal against Switzerland on Jan. 10 at 8:30 p.m. AT before playing Hungary and Sweden on Jan. 12 and 13, respectively, to close out the preliminary round.

The 1,250-seat Membertou Sport & Wellness Centre will host all preliminary-round games, while playoff games, including the gold medal game set for Sunday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. AT, will be played at the 5,000-seat Centre 200, home of the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will provide exclusive live coverage of the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, delivering all Team Canada games in addition to both semifinals and medal games; please check local listings for details.

“With the tournament schedule now released, the excitement is really starting to build in Cape Breton and across our province,” said Leijsa Wilton, chair of Hockey Nova Scotia’s Female Council. “Fans can now start circling game dates in anticipation of this world-class women’s hockey tournament this January. We know this event will inspire the next generation of young players here in Nova Scotia.”

Fans looking to secure their seats and SEE THEE RISE can purchase medal-round ticket packages starting Sept. 18 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the roster for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team for a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 13-16 at the Lake Placid Olympic Centre.

Twenty-five players—three goaltenders, eight defence and 14 forwards—will represent Canada, including nine who won gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship (Ismael, Korte, Leprohon, McCullough, McDonald, Piggott, Caileigh Tiller, Tremblay, Viel).

The team was selected by Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of scouting and player development. Head coach Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA), assistant coaches Amanda Benoit-Wark (Welland, ON/Ridley College, OWHA U22 Elite) and Marc-André Côté (Montreal, QC/University of Moncton, AUS), as well as goaltending coach Sheldon Goertzen (Saskatoon, SK/University of Saskatchewan, CW) also provided input, in addition to the seven regional scouts.

“We are extremely proud of the group selected to wear the Maple Leaf in Lake Placid,” said Sunohara. “This team brings a strong mix of new faces to our program and returning experience. The selection camp was tremendously competitive; each player has earned the opportunity to represent Canada this summer. This series against the U.S. is an important step in our journey to further develop our players and continue the selection process as we prepare to host the world championship in January.”

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team will face the United States on Aug. 13, Aug. 14 and Aug. 16 with games starting at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT and 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. Click here for the full U18 schedule and here for the full Development schedule.

All games will be livestreamed at USAHockeyTV.com (subscription required).

Canada will defend its gold medal on home ice at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Jan. 8-18 in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia. Fans have until Aug. 17 sign up for the Priority List to get early access to tickets.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the rosters for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp, presented by BFL CANADA, and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team for its three-game series against the United States.

Forty-six players – six goaltenders, 14 defence and 26 forwards – have been invited to U18 selection camp, scheduled for Aug. 6-9 at the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary. The roster includes nine players who won a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship (Ismael, Korte, Leprohon, McCullough, McDonald, Piggott, Caileigh Tiller, Tremblay, Viel).

The selection camp will feature on- and off-ice training sessions and practices, as well as three Red-White games on Aug. 7-9. Once selected, Team Canada will play a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 13-16 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York.

Canada will defend its gold medal on home ice at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Jan. 8-18 in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia. Fans have until Aug. 17 sign up for the Priority List to get early access to tickets.

“The selection camp is an important starting point in our journey, and I’m thrilled to return for a second-straight year with this incredible program,” said Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA), head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team. “Coming off a gold medal performance last year, there is a strong sense of pride and purpose as we evaluate and work with this next group of talented athletes. The competition will be intense, and we are excited to begin shaping the team that will wear the Maple Leaf as we prepare to welcome the world's best to Canada in January.”

Twenty-three players – three goaltenders, seven defence and 13 forwards – have been named to Canada’s National Women’s Development Team for its three-game series against the United States from Aug. 13-16 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid.

The roster includes nine players who won gold at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship (Adam, Amos, Baxter, Grober, Henderson, MacLeod, Murphy, Regalado, Swiderski), nine who won gold at the 2023 U18 Women’s Worlds (Alexander, Amos, Baxter, Caron, Clark, Grober, Murphy, Pais, Venusio) and 12 who claimed silver at the 2024 Women’s Euro Hockey Tour (Adam, Amos, Baxter, Henderson, MacLeod, Murdoch, Murphy, Pais, Palumbo, Paul, Swiderski, Venusio).

“We are excited to return to the international stage with a strong group of athletes who bring both experience and fresh energy to our development team,” said Alison Domenico (Ottawa, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA), head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team. “It is an honour to be back behind the bench, and our staff is eager to continue guiding our talented athletes as they take the next steps in their growth within our program.”

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

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the coaching and support staffs that will lead Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team during the 2025-26 season.

Team Canada legend Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA) and Alison Domenico (Ottawa, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA) return to lead the U18 and development teams, respectively, as head coaches for the second-consecutive year.

“Vicky and Alison have displayed incredible passion for our women’s program, and we are thrilled to have both return to our under-18 and development teams this year,” said Dylan Rockwell (Calgary, AB), senior manager of hockey operations. “These teams are crucial steps in our women’s program and demand a high-level of dedication from the coaching staffs who will assist our athletes in their development. We are excited to announce the coaches and support staff who will provide the necessary skills and guidance to our teams on the international stage this season.”

Sunohara returns to the bench after guiding Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. She will be joined by assistant coaches Amanda Benoit-Wark (Welland, ON/Ridley College, OWHA U22 Elite) and Marc-André Côté (Montreal, QC/University of Moncton, AUS), as well as goaltending coach Sheldon Goertzen (Saskatoon, SK/University of Saskatchewan, CW) and video coach Carlee Campbell (Oakville, ON/University of Toronto, OUA).

Sunohara is entering her 15th season as head coach of the University of Toronto women’s hockey team, winning Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U SPORTS Coach of the Year honours in three-consecutive seasons (2020-23) and leading the Blues to the U SPORTS national championship tournament the past three seasons (2023-25). In addition to last year’s U18 Women’s Worlds gold medal, she won gold (2022) and bronze (2024) as an assistant coach at the tournament. As a player, Sunohara won two Olympic gold medals and seven IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medals. She ranks 10th all-time in National Women’s Team scoring with 119 points (56-63—119) in 164 games, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2025.

Benoit-Wark has served as head coach of the women's hockey program at Ridley College since 2008. Internationally, she won a bronze medal as an assistant coach with Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team at the 2018 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Benoit-Wark also served as an assistant with Canada's National Women's Development Team, winning silver at the 2017 Nations Cup and gold at the 2015 Nations Cup. As a player, she won two gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship (1999, 2000) and three gold at the 4 Nations Cup (1996, 1998, 2000).

Côté returns after winning gold as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s U18 Team at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. He is entering his 14th season with the University of Moncton women’s hockey team, serving the last seven seasons as head coach and the previous six as an assistant. He has also served as an assistant coach for a pair of three-game series against the United States, once with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team (2022) and once with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team (2023). As a player, Côté won a gold medal at the 2004 Junior World Cup with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team and bronze at the 2004 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with Quebec.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp, presented by BFL CANADA, will take place Aug. 6-9 at the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary. Once selected, the team will play a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 13-16 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York.

Canada will defend its gold medal on home ice at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Jan. 8-18 in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia. Fans have until Aug. 17 sign up for the Priority List to get early access to tickets.

For a full list of staff for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and a list of camp support staff, please click here.

Domenico returns to lead Canada’s National Women’s Development Team alongside assistant coaches Matt Desrosiers (Fort Erie, ON/Clarkson University, ECAC) and Chris MacKenzie (Niagara Falls, ON/University of Connecticut, HE), as well as goaltending coach Brad Fogal (North York, ON) and video coach Josh Bell (Kingston, ON).

Domenico is entering her second year as head coach of the University of Ottawa women’s hockey team after over a decade as an assistant coach in the NCAA with Ohio State University (2010-11), Syracuse University (2011-18) and Providence College (2018-21). Internationally, she has won gold medals as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship, as well as a silver medal as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team at the 2024 Women’s Euro Hockey Tour. As a player, she won gold with Ontario Red at the 2005 National Women’s Under-18 Championship and with Ontario at the 2003 Canada Winter Games.

Desrosiers has served as head coach of the Clarkson University women’s hockey team for the past 17 seasons, leading the team to three NCAA national championships (2014, 2017, 2018) and earning Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year honours three times (2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18). Internationally, he won a bronze medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

MacKenzie is set to make his international coaching debut. He is entering his 13th season as head coach of the University of Connecticut’s women’s hockey team, earning Hockey East Coach of the Year honours the past two seasons and winning NCAA National Coach of the Year in 2023-24. MacKenzie led the Huskies to their first national championship in 2024 and is the winningest coach in program history. Prior to joining the University of Connecticut, MacKenzie served as an assistant coach with Ohio State University (2012-13), head coach of Niagara University (2009-11) and as an assistant with the men’s hockey team at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2001-09).

Canada’s National Women’s Development Team will gather in Montréal, Québec for a pair of practices before heading to Lake Placid for a three-game series against the United States from Aug. 13-16.

For a full list of staff for Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, please click here.

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

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Stanley Cup champion Misha Donskov (London, ON) has joined the organization as vice-president of hockey operations and men’s national teams coach, effective immediately.

Reporting to Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, Donskov brings National Hockey League (NHL) experience as an executive and coach to the organization and will be responsible for implementing the vision and strategies for Hockey Canada’s men’s, women’s and para hockey teams, and strengthen the alignment between the organization’s hockey operations and business operations staffs.

Donskov will also serve as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Team at the IIHF World Championship, as assistant coach with the Men’s Olympic Team and as associate coach with Canada’s National Junior Team.

“We are thrilled to name Misha to his role today as he will play a critical role to ensure Canada’s national teams are set up for sustained success when representing our country on the world stage,” said Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer. “Misha is a proven winner, collaborative leader and unwavering in his commitment to supporting our athletes, coaches and staff, and we know he will make Canadians proud throughout his work with Hockey Canada.

“We received a tremendous number of applications from candidates in Canada, across North America and around the world for this position and appreciate their interest in the role as part of the extensive recruitment process.”

Donskov recently completed his second season as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars after spending parts of four seasons as an assistant coach (2020-23) with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he won a 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 a number of 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.

Donskov spent five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights (2009-12) and Ottawa 67s (2012-14), highlighted by an OHL championship as London’s assistant general manager and assistant coach in 2012. In addition to his coaching and management career, Donskov has extensive experience in hockey development, including previous NHL roles with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Atlanta Thrashers.

Prior to pursuing a full-time career in hockey, Donskov spent six years with Cardinal Health, a Fortune 500 global, integrated healthcare solutions company. He held roles of increasing responsibility in finance, sales, and sales management. He holds a master's degree in kinesiology with a specialization in coaching education from the University of Western Ontario.

“It is a tremendous honour to be trusted to serve as Vice President, Hockey Operations and National Men’s Teams Coach for Hockey Canada,” said Donskov. “I would like to thank the Hockey Canada Board, Katherine Henderson and Scott Salmond for this incredibly unique opportunity. Hockey Canada has played a significant role in my hockey journey and development — both personal and professional. I am excited to be returning to Hockey Canada to help support our world leading teams, programs and people. In addition, I would like to thank Tom Gaglardi, Jim Nill and Pete DeBoer for affording me the privilege to coach in the National Hockey League and be a part of the Dallas Stars family and organization.”

This is the second critical hockey operations staff announcement ahead of the 2025-26 international hockey season after Hockey Canada announced the hiring of Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), the first full-time general manager of the Program of Excellence.

“Misha brings a coaching acumen and focus to Hockey Canada that our programs will benefit immensely from,” added Salmond. “With a full time general manager in Alan Millar and now the addition of Misha Donskov, we are in a great position as an organization moving forward.”

Additions to the Program of Excellence management group, as well as the coaching staffs, support staffs and rosters for the under-17, under-18 and under-20 programs will be announced in the coming weeks.

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

As long as I can remember, I've heard and read stories of my ancestry dating back to the Red River Resistance, including a book written about my great-grandma’s family living on a reserve in Northern Manitoba. Families on my dad’s side settled in small Métis towns called St-Malo and St-Pierre-Jolys.

I’ll admit… after hearing about my ancestors’ experiences, I wasn't sure if being Indigenous was good or if it was something I should be ashamed of. In minor hockey, people used to always ask ‘Who is that little native boy on the ice?’ just because I was playing on a boys’ team and had a long braid.

I didn’t think much of it at the time, until I heard some of the things people were saying about other Indigenous people in the community, things I never thought I would hear. Although we spoke regularly in our household about our Métis heritage, it was difficult to express it outside our walls.

After that, I thought if I didn't expose myself as being Indigenous that I wouldn't get bullied or hurt. I buried it away and focused on my real passion—hockey. Every time I stepped on the ice, I wanted to be the best player so one day I could be a role model for other Indigenous athletes with similar experiences.

I lived by the motto “I work hard today to be better for tomorrow.” Carrying that with me, I was able to make the British Columbia roster as a double under-ager for the 2023 Canada Winter Games on Prince Edward Island, and was lucky enough to help Team B.C. win its first-ever gold medal!

That event was a huge moment in my journey; I believe I made a name for Indigenous athletes to show that you can play with everyone.

My journey with Team B.C. has continued for the last two seasons, winning a pair of bronze medals at the U18 Women’s National Championship, getting to serve as captain at the most recent tournament in New Brunswick and being named Top Defender.

I have also won two Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) championships with RHA Kelowna in the Female U18 Prep division, broke the record for most career assists in division history and earned CSSHL Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Oh, and I lived out a dream by getting to wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and win a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Finland. How’s that for a platform for Indigenous athletes!

Through my time with Team B.C., I learned about ISPARC (Indigenous Sports Physical Activity and Recreation Council), which leads the teams that represent the province at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) every year. In 2023, just a few months after my Canada Games experience, I made my first NAHC appearance in Winnipeg.

I returned for a second tournament in 2024 in Grande Prairie, winning a bronze medal, and earned the Premier’s regional and provincial awards for Indigenous youth excellence in sports.

I made a third trip just a few months ago on home ice in Kamloops, just a couple hours from where I grew up in Osoyoos, getting the honour of being captain again and leading Team B.C. to silver, the best finish in program history.

Those tournaments were amazing experience, both personally and culturally. I felt accepted by opponents, fans, coaches and teammates. They were so, so important in my growth as a hockey player and as an Indigenous athlete.

There’s one story from my NAHC years that will stick with me, and I want to share it. It really drives home why I want to work with the younger generation (which is funny for me to say being only 18!) to truly embrace our culture.

One of my best friends, who is Indigenous, would constantly be reminded by her teammates that she wasn't good enough to play for Team B.C. at the U18 Women’s Nationals. No one cared if she made the ISPARC Team B.C.; to them, it would never be as good as what they considered the “real Team B.C.”

I never hesitated to remind her how skilled of a player she was. It was—and still is—very hard for me to understand how her teammates could not only be so mean, but at the same time talk about Indigenous athletes and the NAHC tournament as a lower form of competition.

Hearing them say that we aren't good enough hockey players just because we were Indigenous was something that didn’t sit well for me. It made me realize that I have to fight for what's right and stop hiding in the shadows.

I am very proud to say that I am a citizen of the Métis Nation of British Columbia (MNBC) and that I live on the traditional unceded territory of the Sylix (Okanagan) Nation!

I made a decision to learn more about being Métis. The MNBC staff was welcoming and supported me in learning about my culture and other Indigenous cultures. I was honoured to be sashed by the president of the MNBC and receive two warrior sashes made for me by Métis Elders.

I was invited by the MNBC Board of Directors to speak with government representatives and talk about the mental, physical and emotional challenges that Indigenous athletes have to face. I explained how hard it is to be faced with discrimination just for being Indigenous.

Due to the negative impact, I took a 12-week course with former NHLer Aaron Volpatti to help with my mental health and confidence. He showed me that if I envision what I want to focus on and to not let outside voices get to me, I'll be able to accomplish anything.

This knowledge was very important; I learned that it's okay to speak up and to fight for what's right. I knew I didn't have to hide who I was anymore because I had a whole team of people who would back me up and pick me up if I ever got down. Being a citizen of the MNBC has allowed me to be a role model for Indigenous athletes, proving that there are no limits if you are willing to put in the work.

Alongside the highs and lows of being an Indigenous athlete, I faced another challenge that was out of my control—I have often been overlooked or underestimated because of my height. (I’m 5-foot-2, in case you’re wondering.)

No matter what I did, every mistake and every loss was because I was short. I knew my height would come with challenges, but never did I think a coach would belittle me because of it. I would be told that I cost the team the game, implying that it was because I was too short. During my NCAA recruitment, this coach would always bring up my size as a negative when speaking to other coaches, rather than focusing on my skills.

I’m short…and I can’t do anything about it! I am so lucky to have been able to work with two coaches, Venla Hovi and Kris Hogg, who really took me under their wing and didn't just look past me because of my height.

Venla—a two-time Olympian and Women’s Worlds veteran with Finland—was the first coach who gave me confidence to use my height as an advantage. She saw my potential and worked with me to be comfortable being uncomfortable. She really changed the way I played, for the better. She allowed me to see my height as a strength and as something people wouldn't be able to stop. I was so fortunate to have a strong believer like her on my side.

When I made the move from the Okanagan Hockey Academy to RHA Kelowna, Kris was the coach who encouraged me and supported my growth as a player. He always put me out there to every single college he could, never once saying I was too short to play Division I hockey. He also pushed me past my boundaries on and off the ice, which helped me to break records I wouldn't have thought possible.

It is with the support of Venla and Kris, along with coaches and trainers like Mark Fitzgerald, Jim Liebel, Tyler Liebel, Travis Martell, Derek Ruck, my dad Dean and so many more that I have been able to live my hockey dreams—representing my province, representing my Indigenous community and (the craziest of all) representing my country!

This coming season, I’m proud to have accepted a scholarship to Penn State University to continue my hockey career.

Through my journey I have realized that no matter what, you have to fight for what's right and continue to battle against the hard. I am so thankful for all the opportunities I have had, and I continue to work hard today to be better for tomorrow so that I can make my dreams to represent Canada at the Olympics and play in the PWHL a reality.

My hope is that my journey and story will be an inspiration to young Indigenous athletes, showing them that any boundary is breakable with the right mindset.