TORONTO – May 18, 2018 – Hockey Canada and Bauer Hockey have extended their partnership through a new eight-year deal that will see the nation’s top teams provided with equipment from the world’s top brand, and a continued collaboration on opportunities to increase participation, welcome new players and engage existing players.

“One of our team’s highest points of pride is our continued partnership with Hockey Canada because it is an example of the game’s best at a variety of age levels selecting BAUER for their game,” said Ed Kinnaly, CEO of Bauer Hockey. “More than the equipment, this partnership allows us to come together with Hockey Canada to advance our shared missions, such as when we created The First Shift in 2013 together, and we’re looking forward to continuing this collaborative approach over the next eight years.”

For the past 45 years, Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada have been partners, and continuing a tradition since 1996, Bauer Hockey will be the official equipment provider of Hockey Canada’s national teams. Canada’s national team players will exclusively wear BAUER helmets, gloves, visors and goal masks, including at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship when it returns to Canadian ice in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C., in December 2018.

“Our partnership with BAUER provides Hockey Canada with the best equipment for our national men’s, women’s, and para hockey teams, while also aligning us with a like-minded organization that cares about growing the game at the grassroots level,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer at Hockey Canada. “We look forward to eight more years of collaboration with BAUER from the grassroots level to our high-performance teams.”

In addition to the equipment partnership, Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada will continue to collaborate in areas where they have shared missions. Over the last several years, the two organizations combined resources and expertise to create, launch and expand The Canadian Tire First Shift, a successful program that welcomes new-to-hockey families to the game.

Today in partnership with Canadian Tire it is offered in hundreds of communities across Canada. Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada will continue to identify and develop other initiatives to further advance the game for both new and existing players, including activation at major hockey tournaments and all IIHF events hosted by Hockey Canada.

To learn more about Hockey Canada, visit www.HockeyCanada.ca.

TORONTO, ON, August 2, 2016 - Hockey Canada, in partnership with Nike and players representing Canada’s national women’s, men’s, and sledge teams, unveiled the new Team Canada jersey in Toronto on Tuesday.

Designed by Nike to celebrate Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation, the jersey will make its competitive debut this week when 41 of the nation’s best under-20 players face off against teams from Finland,Sweden, and the United States in Plymouth, Mich., in their quest to represent Canada on home ice when the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship returns to Toronto and Montreal this December.

Tailor-made for the nation’s athletes, the Team Canada jerseys give a nod to Canada’s rich history while also incorporating performance innovation by Nike.

“This jersey is designed to match performance with patriotism,” said Tom Renney, president and chief executive officer, Hockey Canada. “I have been lucky to be able to turn my passion for the game into a career; and what I realized very early on is that hockey goes well beyond what’s learned on the ice. Hockey is part of the fabric of our nation, and teaches all of the life lessons that build great citizens. We wanted to ensure that every aspect of this jersey had a deep meaning to Canadians, while still pushing the envelope with innovation. From the bottom white stripe to the embedded maple leaves, the jersey is emblematic of that intrinsic link between the game and the 35 million Canadians who carry the Maple Leaf in their hearts.”

Engineered using Nike AeroSwift Technology and woven with Ripstop Fabric, the jersey is made to endure the athletes’ fast and physical performance on the ice. Meshed zones under both arms support thermoregulation through optimal ventilation allowing players to stay cool during the game.

The jersey prominently features the Canada 150 logo on both sleeves, composed of a series of diamonds that represent the four original Confederation provinces, forming the shape of the iconic Maple Leaf. On the upper section of the jersey, rows of maple leaves fill the jersey’s shoulder caps, forming one of the most patriotic features ever seen on a national jersey. The icon of the Maple Leaf represents one voice and the repeat of the icon represents the nation rallying around hockey. The unique and classic double-stripe on the jersey’s sleeves returns, but has been accentuated with a black and red accent making the exclusive design pop like never before.

“In 2017, as we celebrate the milestone 150^th anniversary of Confederation, we naturally reflect on the integral role that hockey plays in uniting Canadians,” says Raj Grewal, MP for Brampton East. “This year’s jersey reflects the pride this great game brings to our country and its importance in our culture.”

In addition to the upcoming National Junior Team development camp games, Team Canada fans will see the new jersey in action at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cupwhen the men’s summer under-18 team look to defend their golden streak this month, as well as during a three-game series hosted in Calgary featuring Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team going head-to-head against their U.S. rivals.

The new Team Canada jersey is available on August 2 at Nike stores and online at Nike.com and HockeyCanada.ca/Shop, at Hockey Canada’s official retail partner SportChek, and other Canadian retailers from coast to coast.

About Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada is the governing body for hockey in Canada and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with a membership through its 13 provincial member associations of over 700,000 players, coaches and officials. Hockey Canada is a not-for-profit organization that creates leading-edge hockey development programs for its members to deliver in communities across Canada; provides consistent rules and regulations and various other membership services from coast to coast to coast; manages numerous regional, national, and international hockey championships and events; and leads the operation of all teams that represent Canada in international hockey competition. Hockey Canada’s mission is to “lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences.”For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or join our social media communities onFacebook, Instagram, SnapChat (@hockey_canada), and Twitter.

About NIKE Inc.

NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Ore., is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes surf and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com and follow @Nike.

CALGARY, Alta. – The top 196 players in Canada have been invited to attend men’s camps as part of the National Teams’ Summer Showcase from July 26-Aug. 6.

In its second summer, the National Teams’ Summer Showcase will bring together Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp (44 players) and Canada’s national under-17 development camp (111 players) in Calgary, at the Markin MacPhail Centre from July 26-Aug. 2. Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp (41 players) will be hosted in Toronto July 30-Aug. 2, and will feature a four-game series against the Finland, Sweden and the United States from Aug. 3-6 in Plymouth, Mich.

Ryan Jankowski, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada, was responsible for all player selections, with assistance from regional scouts Carl Bouchard (Quebec), Barclay Branch (Ontario), Wade Klippenstein (West), Kevin Mitchell (Atlantic), and Darrell Woodley (Ontario) for the under-17 roster along with branch representatives, and with input from coaches and general managers from across the Canadian Hockey League for the under-18 and under-20 rosters.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the talent we have across the country, and for our coaches and scouts to evaluate the players in our programs,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations and national teams. “These camps are key in selecting our international teams for the 2016-17 season, and we are looking forward to hosting 196 players as they work towards their ultimate goal of wearing the maple leaf.”

Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp

From July 29-Aug. 2, 44 players – four goaltenders, 16 defencemen, and 24 forwards – will participate in practices and three Red-White intrasquad games.

Of the 44 players who have been invited to the selection camp, 22 will be selected for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team for the 2016 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, Aug. 8-12 in Breclav, Czech Republic and Bratislava, Slovakia. Canada has won the summer under-18 tournament 11 times in the last 12 years, including the last eight consecutive years. 

Canada’s national under-17 development camp

From July 26-Aug. 1, 111 players – 12 goaltenders, 36 defenceman and 63 forwards – will participate in practices and games on one of six teams: Black, Blue, Gold, Green, Red, and White.

Following the development camp, players will continue to be evaluated through the early season before 66 are selected to represent Canada on one of three national teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, and Team Canada White – at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which is scheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 5 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

This year, 110 players have been drafted or listed by CHL teams, including 42 from the Ontario Hockey League, 40 from the Western Hockey League and 28 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp

From July 30-Aug. 6, 41 players – four goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 23 forwards – will participate in practices from July 30-Aug. 2 in Toronto before playing in a series against Finland, Sweden, and the United States at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.

Jankowski will continue to monitor these players and other potential candidates during the first few months of the 2016-17 season and at the CHL Canada Russia Series to determine who will be invited to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp in December. In total, 22 players will be selected to represent Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship when it returns to Canadian ice Dec. 26, 2016 to Jan. 5, 2017 in Montreal and Toronto.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter.com/HC_Men. 

It was a record two days for Canada at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, ON, as the number of drafted Canadians hit marks not seen since the mid 1990s. Four of the top five picks, and 10 of the top 15 were Canadians, and 18 Canadian players made the walk to the stage in the draft’s opening round – no other country had more than five.

When all was said and done on Saturday afternoon, 121 Canadian players were selected by NHL teams during the two-day draft, the highest number since 125 were picked in 2004, and up significantly from the 102 drafted in 2007 and .

The Canadian players selected comprised 57.3 per cent of all selected players, the highest percentage since 1996 (58.1% - 140 out of 241) and the first time more than half of the drafted players were Canadian since 1998 (50% - 129 out of 258).

Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence was well represented in Ottawa, as 45 players who have pulled on the Team Canada jersey heard their names called (listed below in order of selection):

NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM
(Stamkos, Doughty, Schenn, Boychuk)

NATIONAL MEN’S UNDER-18 TEAM
(Stamkos, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Schenn, Hodgson, Beach, Myers, Teubert, Boychuk, Del Zotto, Eberle, Cuma, Nemisz, Ennis, Allen, Deschamps, Trivino, O’Dell, Y. Sauvé, Robak, M. Sauvé, Hamonic, Scandella, Delmas, Toews, Lalonde, Brittain, McMillan, Wudrick, Holtby, Arniel, Tessier, Wright, Poulin, Cornet, Lagacé, Doyle, Carrozzi)

WORLD UNDER-17 CHALLENGE
(Doughty, Schenn, Bailey, Boychuk, Ennis, Goloubef, Y. Sauvé, Adam, Cormier, Delahey, Rai, Cornet, Doyle, Broda)

Canadians selected in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
1. Tampa Bay – Steven Stamkos (Unionville, ON/ Sarnia, OHL)
2. Los Angeles – Drew Doughty (London, ON/ Guelph, OHL)
4. St. Louis – Alex Pietrangelo (King City, ON/ Niagara, OHL)
5. Toronto – Luke Schenn (Saskatoon, SK/ Kelowna, WHL)
9. NY Islanders – Josh Bailey (Bowmanville, ON/ Windsor, OHL)
10. Vancouver – Cody Hodgson (Markham, ON/ Brampton, OHL)
11. Chicago – Kyle Beach (Kelowna, BC/ Everett, WHL)
12. Buffalo – Tyler Myers (Calgary, AB/ Kelowna, WHL)
13. Los Angeles – Colten Teubert (White Rock, BC/ Regina, WHL)
14. Carolina – Zach Boychuk (Airdrie, AB/ Lethbridge, WHL)
16. Boston – Joe Colborne (Calgary, AB/ Camrose, AJHL)
17. Nashville – Chet Pickard (Winnipeg, MB/ Tri-City, WHL)
20. NY Rangers – Michael Del Zotto (Stouffville, ON/ Oshawa, OHL)
22. Edmonton – Jordan Eberle (Calgary, AB/ Regina, WHL)
23. Minnesota – Tyler Cuma (Bowmanville, ON/ Ottawa, OHL)
25. Calgary – Greg Nemicz (Courtice, ON/ Windsor, OHL)
26. Buffalo – Tyler Ennis (Edmonton, AB/ Medicine Hat, WHL)
29. Atlanta – Daulton Leveille (St. Catharines, ON/ St. Catharines, OHA Jr. B)

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the three Canadian Hockey League (CHL) general managers that will make up the Program of Excellence management group for the 2024-25 season.

Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QC/Drummondville, QMJHL) will make his debut as a member of the POE management group, guiding the under-17 program through the 2024 U17 World Challenge in Sarnia, Ontario, while Dave Brown (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON/Erie, OHL) returned to the POE for the second year in a row, serving as under-18 lead by helping Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team win its third-straight gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton in August. Peter Anholt (Naicam, SK/Lethbridge, WHL) is part of the management group for the fourth-consecutive season and leading the under-20 program for the second time in as many years, advising Canada’s National Junior Team through the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.

In addition, Team Canada alumni Kyle Turris (New Westminster, BC) and Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, BC) have joined the management group of the under-17 and under-20 programs, respectively. Turris will work alongside Lemay, making his management debut, while Seabrook returns to the under-20 program for the second-straight year to work alongside Anholt. 

“We are grateful for Yanick, Dave, Peter, Kyle and Brent’s commitment and dedication to the Program of Excellence, as these three general managers and two recognized alumni bring a wealth of experience and leadership to Hockey Canada’s under-17, under-18 and under-20 programs,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. “The POE has been successful to start the new season, with Dave helping our under-18 program capture gold on home ice, and we know Yanick, Kyle, Peter and Brent are excited to continue to contribute to Canada’s success on the international stage in the coming months.”

Lemay is currently in his second season as general manager of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Last season, he helped lead the Voltigeurs to a 102-point season, winning the Trophée Gilles-Courteau as QMJHL champions and earning a spot in the Memorial Cup. Prior to joining Drummondville, he served as an amateur scout with the Winnipeg Jets for 12 seasons (2011-23), was the head scout of the QMJHL’s Montréal Junior 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 guided the under-17 program in 2023-24, helping Canada White to a gold medal at the 2023 U17 World Challenge. He is currently in his 10th season (2015-24) as general manager of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after serving four seasons as director (2014-15) and assistant director (2011-14) of hockey operations with the team. Brown led 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, he spent seven seasons with the Mississauga/Niagara IceDogs, serving as assistant general manager (2003-05) and general manager (2005-10).

Anholt led the under-20 program last season, as well as the under-18 program for two seasons (2021-23), helping Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team win a gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is currently in his ninth full season (2015-24) as general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) after being promoted from assistant general manager in 2014. Anholt also spent time as head coach of the Hurricanes for part of the 2014-15 season, and has won the WHL Executive of the Year award twice (2015-16, 2019-20). He brings a wealth of WHL experience as a head coach, assistant coach and scout, including stints with the Prince Albert Raiders (1986-89, 2002-07), Seattle Thunderbirds (1989-92, 2012-14), Red Deer Rebels (1992-95, 1998-2000, 2007-08, 2011-12) and Kelowna Rockets (1996-98).

Turris played in 776 NHL games over 14 seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes (2008-11), Ottawa Senators (2011-17), Nashville Predators (2017-20) and Edmonton Oilers (2020-22), amassing 424 points (168 goals, 256 assists). He suited up for Canada at all levels of the POE, winning gold medals at the 2006 U18 Junior World Cup and 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, and won gold with Canada West at the inaugural World Junior A Challenge in 2006, where he led the tournament in scoring and was named Most Valuable Player. Turris also played at three IIHF World Championships (2014, 2018, 2019), serving as captain and winning a silver medal in 2019.

Seabrook played in 1,114 NHL games over 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (2005-20), recording 464 career points (103 goals, 361 assists), serving as an alternate captain for 11 seasons and winning the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015). He won a silver medal at the 2002 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, gold medals at the 2002 Eight Nations Cup and 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship, and gold (2005) and silver (2004) at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Seabrook also suited up for Canada at the 2006 IIHF World Championship and won gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Prior to his professional career, he played four WHL seasons (2001-05) for Lethbridge, serving as Hurricanes captain for two seasons (2003-05).

The management group will work alongside Salmond, Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations, U20 head scout Al Murray (Regina, SK), U17 head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and Scott Walker (Cambridge, ON), player development coach, 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; Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer and executive vice-president, strategy; Salmond; 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 invited 163 players to participate in its Program of Excellence summer camps – Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp and Canada’s national under-17 development camp.

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to host summer camps across our Program of Excellence this year and gain valuable insights into the development of our up-and-coming athletes,” said senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations Scott Salmond (Creston, BC). “The athletes will gain experience in the operations of our program ahead of the 2024 U17 World Challenge, the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the highly anticipated 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.”

Forty-two players - four goaltenders, 13 defencemen and 25 forwards – have been invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase, July 28 to Aug. 3 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, and south of the border in Plymouth, Michigan.

The camp roster features 38 players who have been selected in the NHL Draft, including 17 first-round picks: Colby Barlow (WPG), Cole Beaudoin (UHC), Oliver Bonk (PHI), Berkly Catton (SEA), Easton Cowan (TOR), Sam Dickinson (SJS), Tij Iginla (UHC), Cayden Lindstrom (CBJ), Jett Luchanko (PHI), Tanner Molendyk (NSH), Bradly Nadeau (CAR), Zayne Parekh (CGY), Calum Ritchie (COL), Beckett Sennecke (ANA), Matthew Wood (NSH), Brayden Yager (PIT) and Carter Yakemchuk (OTT).

The player selection process was led by Salmond and the management group, which includes Peter Anholt (Naicam, SK/Lethbridge, WHL) and Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, BC) with assistance from senior manager of hockey operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON). Head coach Dave Cameron (Kinkora, PE/Ottawa, OHL) and assistant coaches Sylvain Favreau (Orleans, ON/Drummondville, QMJHL), Mike Johnston (Dartmouth, NS/Portland, WHL) and Chris Lazary (Toronto, ON/Saginaw, OHL) were also involved in the process.

As part of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, 41 players – four goaltenders, 12 defencemen and 25 forwards – have been invited to compete to represent Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scheduled for Aug. 5-10 in Edmonton, Alberta. The selection camp, set for July 27-30 at the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary, will include a pair of Red-Black games on July 29-30. The roster includes five players who won gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship (Desnoyers, Hamilton, Ivankovic, McKenna, Schaefer).

Head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) led the player selection process with assistance from Salmond. U18 Program of Excellence management group lead Dave Brown (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON/Erie, OHL), head coach Kris Mallette (Kelowna, BC/Kelowna, WHL) and assistant coaches Gordie Dwyer (Dalhousie, NB/Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL) and Ryan Oulahen (Newmarket, ON/North Bay, OHL) also provided input.

Eighty players – eight goaltenders, 24 defencemen and 48 forwards – will take the ice at Joshua’s Creek Arenas in Oakville, Ontario as part of Canada’s national under-17 development camp, set to take place July 18-24. All 80 players have been drafted by Canadian Hockey League teams (39 from the OHL, 23 from the WHL and 18 from the QMJHL), while 17 represented Canada at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games (Beites, Chartrand, Croskery, Di Iorio, Edwards, Ellsworth, Esler, Lawrence, Lin, O’Donnell, Preston, Liam Ruck, Markus Ruck, Rudolph, Valentini, Verhoeff, Wassilyn).

The player selection process was led by Bonora, with assistance from regional scouts Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Rob Simpson (Ontario), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario), as well as Member representatives. Players will continue to be evaluated through the beginning of the 2024-25 season in preparation for the 2024 U17 World Challenge, scheduled for Nov. 1-9 in Sarnia, Ontario.

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

After another successful NHL Draft, one thing remains clear – no country develops hockey players quite like Canada.

In total, more than one-third of the players who had their names called in Nashville – 87 of 224 – hail from north of the 49th parallel. (That includes players who were born outside the country but are products of the Canadian hockey system, like No. 37 pick Ethan Gauthier.)

The list features representation from 10 Members, and 33 who have worn the Maple Leaf in international competition.

The red-and-white run started from the top, with two-time IIHF World Championship gold medallist Connor Bedard going No. 1 to the Chicago Blackhawks. The North Vancouver, B.C., native is just the second player from Canada’s westernmost province to be taken with the first pick, joining Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2012).

CONNOR BEDARD IS A CHICAGO BLACKHAWK pic.twitter.com/7mZD3btVSM

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 28, 2023

Bedard rewrote the World Juniors record book, setting all-time records for goals (17) and points (36) by a Canadian.

Adam Fantilli followed quickly behind, going to the Columbus Blue Jackets with the third pick. He had a historic 2022-23 season on the international stage, becoming just the second Canadian – after Jonathan Toews (2007) – to win gold at the IIHF World Championship and IIHF World Junior Championship in the same season.

Canadians accounted for 12 of the 32 first-round picks; that list included seven players who helped Canada win gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer (Barlow, Benson, Bonk, Molendyk, Ritchie, Wood, Yager) and three who earned bronze at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship (Barlow, Ritchie, Wood).

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) was well represented among the Canadian contingent; 68 of the 87 players selected were products of CHL programs, from 39 different teams – led by six members of the WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds. The Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League led the way with 29 picks each, followed by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 10.

The Seattle Thunderbirds (Hanzel, Milic, Myatovic, Mynio, Ratzlaff, Sawchyn) paced all club teams with six players selected, while the Brantford Bulldogs (Brown, Lardis, Thomas, Xhekaj), Flint Firebirds (Bertucci, Day, Hay, Pitre), London Knights (Barkey, Bonk, Cowan, Julien) and Ottawa 67's (Foster, Gardiner, Mayich, Pinelli) had four apiece.

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER

Ontario Hockey Federation (34) – Beau Akey, Cam Allen, Matthew Andonovski, Denver Barkey, Colby Barlow, Tristan Bertucci, Sebastian Bradshaw, Cole Brown, Jonathan Castagna, Warren Clark, Easton Cowan, Nathaniel Day, Adam Fantilli, Cooper Foster, Brad Gardiner, Andrew Gibson, Ethan Hay, Jacob Julien, Larry Keenan, Nick Lardis, Angus MacDonell, Ryan MacPherson, Matthew Mayich, Ethan Miedema, Alex Pharand, Luca Pinelli, Coulson Pitre, Carson Rehkopf, Calum Ritchie, Ryan Roobroeck, Konnor Smith, Patrick Thomas, Zaccharya Wisdom, Florian Xhekaj

BC Hockey (19) – Owen Beckner, Connor Bedard, Zach Benson, Luca Cagnoni, Aiden Celebrini, Andrew Cristall, Lukas Dragicevic, Terrell Goldsmith, Kaden Hammell, Jeremy Hanzel, Justin Kipkie, Connor Levis, Thomas Milic, Tanner Molendyk, Nico Myatovic, Sawyer Mynio, Austin Roest, Hoyt Stanley, Matthew Wood

Hockey Alberta (8) – Nate Danielson, Aiden Fink, Emmitt Finnie, Brett Hyland, Ty Mueller, Scott Ratzlaff, Gracyn Sawchyn, Koehn Ziemmer

Hockey Saskatchewan (8) – Noah Chadwick, Riley Heidt, Kalan Lind, Hudson Malinoski, Kalem Parker, Matthew Perkins, Caden Price, Brayden Yager

Hockey Quebec (7) – Mathieu Cataford, Ethan Gauthier, Justin Gill, Rudy Guimond, Charles-Olivier Legault, Quinton Miller, Étienne Morin,

Hockey Manitoba (3) – Carson Bjarnason, Jayden Perron, Carter Sotheran

Hockey New Brunswick (3) – Dylan MacKinnon, Matteo Mann, Bradly Nadeau

Hockey Eastern Ontario (2) – Oliver Bonk, Quinton Burns

Hockey P.E.I. (2) – Luke Coughlin, Cam Squires

Hockey Nova Scotia (1) – Tyler Peddle

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

2023 National Men’s Team
Adam Fantilli

2023 National Junior Team
Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Thomas Milic

2022 National Junior Team
Connor Bedard

2023 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Cam Allen, Colby Barlow, Tristan Bertucci, Carson Bjarnason, Quinton Burns, Andrew Cristall, Lukas Dragicevic, Andrew Gibson, Riley Heidt, Nick Lardis, Angus MacDonell, Étienne Morin, Alex Pharand, Caden Price, Calum Ritchie, Matthew Wood

2022 National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team
Cam Allen, Denver Barkey, Colby Barlow, Zach Benson, Carson Bjarnason, Oliver Bonk, Mathieu Cataford, Andrew Cristall, Ethan Gauthier, Riley Heidt, Kalan Lind, Dylan MacKinnon, Tanner Molendyk, Caden Price, Scott Ratzlaff, Carson Rehkopf, Calum Ritchie, Matthew Wood, Brayden Yager

2022 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Connor Bedard, Lukas Dragicevic, Adam Fantilli, Kalem Parker, Matthew Wood

2021 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Connor Bedard, Thomas Milic

2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Charles-Olivier Legault (White), Thomas Milic (Red)

2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games
Nate Danielson, Adam Fantilli

2022 World Junior A Challenge
Aiden Celebrini (West), Aiden Fink (West), Hudson Malinoski (West)

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the three Canadian Hockey League (CHL) general managers that will make up the Program of Excellence management group for the 2023-24 season.

Dave Brown (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont./Erie, OHL) and Cam Russell (Cole Harbour, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL) will make their debuts as members of the POE management group, with Brown guiding the men’s under-17 program through the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and Russell leading the under-18 program through the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Peter Anholt (Naicam, Sask./Lethbridge, WHL) will return to the program to advise the under-20 program and Canada’s National Junior Team through the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Anholt will take over for James Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL), whose two-year tenure with the under-20 program included back-to-back gold medals at the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships.

“We are excited to welcome Dave and Cam to the POE to lead our under-17 and under-18 programs, and to welcome back Peter as the under-20 lead after an outstanding job guiding our under-18 program,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations. “All three individuals bring a wealth of CHL experience to our program, and we look forward to having them work alongside our athletes and staff while leading our men’s national teams next season.

“We also wish to thank James Boyd for two years of commitment and dedication to Canada’s National Junior Team. James was instrumental in helping Canada win two-straight gold medals at the World Juniors, and we are grateful for his effort and leadership over the past two years.”

Brown is in his eighth season (2015-23) 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).

Russell has spent 22 seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He has served as general manager for the past 15 years (2008-23), helping the Mooseheads win the Memorial Cup in 2013. Russell started his coaching career as an assistant with Halifax for three seasons (2000-03) before serving as a player development consultant for two years (2004-06). He also served as head coach for parts of five seasons (2006-11), adding the GM title to his coaching duties in 2008. As a player, he played 396 NHL games over 10 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (1989-99) and Colorado Avalanche (1998-99), and won two Presidents Cup championships with the QMJHL’s Hull Olympiques.

Anholt has led the under-18 program for the past two seasons, helping Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team win a gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is currently in his eighth full season (2015-23) as general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) after being promoted from assistant general manager in 2014. Anholt also spent time as head coach of the Hurricanes for part of the 2014-15 season, and has won the WHL Executive of the Year award twice (2015-16, 2019-20). Anholt brings a wealth of WHL experience as a head coach, assistant coach and scout, including stints with the Prince Albert Raiders (1986-89, 2002-07), Seattle Thunderbirds (1989-92, 2012-14), Red Deer Rebels (1992-95, 1998-2000, 2007-08, 2011-12) and Kelowna Rockets (1996-98).

The management group will work alongside Salmond and Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, 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 will be overseen by Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, N.B.), Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer; Salmond; Millar; Dan MacKenzie (Guelph, Ont.), CHL president; David Branch (Bathurst, N.B.), OHL commissioner; Mario Cecchini (Saint-Lambert, Que.), incoming QMJHL commissioner; and Ron Robison (Indian Head, Sask.), 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, Twitter and Instagram.

From Shane Wright to Dyllan Gill, the 2022 NHL Draft was all about Canadian hockey.

In total, more than one-third of the players who had their names called in Montreal – 90 of 225 – hail from the true north strong and free.

Those players include representation from 11 Members, and 28 who have worn the Maple Leaf in international competition – including four gold medallists from the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship.

The red-and-white run started early, with Shane Wright going No. 4 to the Seattle Kraken. The Burlington, Ont., native captained Canada Black at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the gold medal-winning U18 team in 2021, and played for Canada’s National Junior Team at the cancelled 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship last winter.

Put that jersey on, Shane! @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/iumkvkTZdB

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) July 8, 2022

Wright was the first of nine Canadians selected in the first round, including three from Manitoba – Conor Geekie (No. 11 to Arizona), Denton Mateychuk (No. 12 to Columbus) and Owen Pickering (No. 21 to Pittsburgh).

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) was well represented among the Canadian contingent; 71 of the 90 players selected – including all nine of the first-round picks – were products of CHL programs, from 36 different teams. The Ontario Hockey League led the way with 29 picks, followed by the Western Hockey League with 27 and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 15.

The North Bay Battalion (Arnsby, DiVincentiis, Jackson, Mathurin, Nelson) and Swift Current Broncos (Davies, Dyck, Filmon, Hvidston, Pickering) paced all club teams with five players selected, while the Guelph Storm (Buchinger, Karabela, Poitras, Zhilkin), Kamloops Blazers (Kuefler, Lindgren, Minten, Seminoff) and Seattle Thunderbirds (Davidson, Gustafson, Korchinski, Schaefer) had four apiece.

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER

Ontario Hockey Federation (30) – Liam Arnsby, Owen Beck, Michael Buchinger, Nolan Collins, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Domenic DiVincentiis, Lucas Edmonds, Jackson Edward, George Fegaras, Isaiah George, David Gucciardi, Hunter Haight, Stephen Halliday, Jake Karabela, Christian Kyrou, Amadeus Lombardi, Paul Ludwinski, Matthew Maggio, Tnias Mathurin, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Owen Mehlenbacher, Nick Moldenhauer, Matthew Morden, Ty Nelson, Cole O’Hara, Matthew Poitras, Tucker Robertson, Jack Sparkes, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

BC Hockey (12) – Mason Beaupit, Parker Bell, Tyson Dyck, Tyson Jugnauth, Ben King, Mats Lindgren, Brandon Lisowsky, Michael Milne, Fraser Minten, Matthew Seminoff, Graham Sward, Abram Wiebe

Hockey Alberta (12) – Emmett Croteau, Jared Davidson, Josh Davies, Jagger Firkus, Jordan Gustafson, Ben Hemmerling, Dylan James, Daylan Kuefler, Rieger Lorenz, Matthew Savoie, Reid Schaefer, Ty Young

Hockey Quebec (11) – Angus Booth, Frédéric Brunet, Jordan Dumais, Nathan Gaucher, Alexis Gendron, Patrick Guay, Maveric Lamoureux, Jérémy Langlois, Tristan Luneau, Miguël Tourigny, Noah Warren

Hockey Manitoba (8) – Tyler Brennan, Reid Dyck, Josh Filmon, Conor Geekie, Ryan Hofer, Adam Ingram, Denton Mateychuk, Owen Pickering

Hockey Eastern Ontario (7) – Jorian Donovan, David Goyette, Cedrick Guindon, Kyle Jackson, Kaleb Lawrence, Gavin White, Cameron Whitehead

Hockey New Brunswick (4) – Eli Barnett, Marc-Andre Gaudet, Dyllan Gill, Samuel Savoie

Hockey Nova Scotia (2) – Jake Furlong, Landon Sim

Hockey Saskatchewan (2) – Connor Hvidston, Kevin Korchinski

Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador (1) – Ryan Greene

Hockey Northwestern Ontario (1) – Daimon Gardner

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE EXPERIENCE

2022 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Nolan Collins, Josh Davies, Reid Dyck, Josh Filmon, David Goyette, Connor Hvidston, Rieger Lorenz, Nick Moldenhauer, Matthew Morden, Owen Pickering

2022 National Junior Team
Shane Wright

2021 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Tyler Brennan, Denton Mateychuk, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

2020 Youth Olympic Games
Cedrick Guindon, Mats Lindgren, Paul Ludwinski, Tristan Luneau, Denton Mateychuk, Ty Nelson, Matthew Savoie, Noah Warren

2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Black: Jérémy Langlois, Kaleb Lawrence, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

Red: Nathan Gaucher

White: Liam Arnsby, Tyler Brennan, Matthew Savoie, Graham Sward

2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Red: Stephan Halliday, Matthew Maggio