CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that a pair of veteran National Hockey League (NHL) general managers have been added to its management group for the 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12-20 in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Julien BriseBois (Greenfield Park, QC/Tampa Bay, NHL) will make his international management debut as assistant general manager, while Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Pittsburgh, NHL), who served as associate GM at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, has been named director of player personnel alongside general manager Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB/Boston, NHL) and associate GM Jim Nill (Hanna, AB/Dallas, NHL).

In addition, BriseBois and Dubas have been named to Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team management group as assistant general manager and director of player personnel, respectively. They will work alongside GM Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON/St. Louis, NHL) and assistant general managers Sweeney and Nill, as well as player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK/Anaheim, NHL) and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer, and Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy, will also provide support as part of the executive committee preparing for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

“Julien and Kyle are accomplished NHL general managers, and I am excited to welcome them to our management group for both the 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympics, as I believe they will be strong assets to a well-rounded management team,” Armstrong said. “Both Julien and Kyle have enjoyed long and successful careers, and we believe their experience and knowledge of NHL players will be a great addition to our staff as we continue to evaluate Canadian players and build rosters for international competition.”

BriseBois has been the general manager and vice-president of hockey operations with the Tampa Bay Lightning for six seasons (2018-24), winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. Previously, he served as assistant general manager of Tampa Bay (2010-18) and general manager of the Syracuse Crunch and Norfolk Admirals (2010-19) of the American Hockey League (AHL), winning the Calder Cup in 2012. He also spent time with the Montréal Canadiens, serving as vice-president of hockey operations (2006-10), director of hockey operations (2003-06) and director of legal affairs (2001-03), and was also the general manager of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs (2007-10), winning the Calder Cup in 2007.

Dubas is entering his second season as general manager and president of hockey operations with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Previously, he spent nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, serving five seasons (2018-23) as general manager, becoming the second-youngest GM in NHL history. He also spent four seasons (2014-18) as assistant general manager and GM of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), leading the team to its first Calder Cup championship in 2018. Dubas started his front-office career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), serving four seasons (2003-07) as a scout and three seasons (2011-14) as general manager.

“Jim and I are thrilled to have Julien and Kyle join our management group for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and to work alongside them as we prepare for the Olympics,” Sweeney said. “Both are successful NHL general managers that bring a wealth of knowledge, many years of experience at the professional level and great leadership skills that will be beneficial to our coaches, support staff and players.”

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship game on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston.

The full roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off will be announced between Nov. 29-Dec. 2, while the assistant coaches and support staff will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on the 4 Nations Face-Off, please visit the official tournament page.

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

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that two veteran National Hockey League (NHL) general managers will lead Canada at the inaugural NHL 4 Nations Face-Off next February.

Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB/Boston, NHL) will make his international management debut as general manager, working alongside associate general manager Jim Nill (Hanna, AB/Dallas, NHL), who will return to Canada’s management group for the first time since 2015.

In addition, Sweeney and Nill have been named assistant general managers of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. They will work alongside Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON/St. Louis, NHL), who was named general manager in March.

The management group was selected by Armstrong, who serves as management group lead for Canada’s National Men’s Team, player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK/Anaheim, NHL) and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer, and Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy, also provided input as part of the executive committee preparing for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

“As we continue to prepare for international competition over the next two years, I am thrilled to have Don and Jim lead Team Canada at the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, and to welcome these two experienced general managers to our management group for the 2026 Olympics,” Armstrong said. “Both Don and Jim have enjoyed successful NHL careers and will represent the Maple Leaf with pride, and we know their experience will be a valuable asset as we build teams for two major international events in 2025 and 2026.”

Sweeney is in his ninth season (2015-24) as general manager of the Boston Bruins, winning the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award in 2018-19 and leading the team to eight-consecutive playoff appearances and two Presidents’ Trophies (2020, 2023). He also served six seasons (2009-15) as assistant general manager, three seasons as director of player development (2006-09) and two seasons (2007-09) as director of hockey operations with the Bruins. As an executive, Sweeney has helped lead the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final three times (2011, 2013, 2019), winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. He also served one season (2014-15) as general manager of the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), and was announced as an assistant general manager of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team for the 2022 Olympics if NHL players participated. As a player, he played in 1,115 NHL games over 16 seasons with the Bruins and Dallas Stars, appearing in the Stanley Cup Final with the Bruins in 1990, and won a gold medal with Canada at the 1997 IIHF World Championship.

Nill has served as the general manager of the Dallas Stars for the past 11 seasons (2013-24), winning GM of the Year in 2022-23 and leading the team to seven playoff appearances and the Stanley Cup Final in 2020. He also spent 19 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, serving as assistant general manager (1998-2013) and director of player development (1994-98), helping lead Detroit to the Stanley Cup Final six times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008, 2009), winning the Stanley Cup four times (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008). Nill was also the GM of the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings for one season (1988-89), leading the team to a Calder Cup championship, and a professional scout with the Ottawa Senators for three seasons (1991-94). Internationally, he has served as director of player personnel (2003) and general manager (2004, 2015) of Canada’s National Men’s Team at the IIHF World Championship, winning gold in 2004 and 2015. As a player, Nill played 524 career NHL games, played in the Stanley Cup Final with the Vancouver Canucks in 1982, suited up for Canada’s National Men’s Team during the 1979-80 season and wore the Maple Leaf at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

The coaching staff and first six players for the 2025 NHL Four Nations Face-Off are expected to be announced in June, while additional announcements regarding Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team will be made at a later date.

The 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off is a new international event that will feature NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States. The event will take place in two North American cities – one in Canada and one in the United States – in February 2025 and will consist of seven games played with NHL rules.

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

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON/St. Louis, NHL) will serve as general manager of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and as management group lead for Canada’s National Men’s Team, overseeing the appointment of management groups that will lead Team Canada at various events over the next two seasons.

In preparation for the 2026 Olympics, Armstrong will serve on an executive committee with Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK/Anaheim, NHL), who will serve as player relations advisor, Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), president and chief executive officer, and Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy.

Armstrong will oversee Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off and 2025 IIHF World Championship, appointing and working with Canadian general managers and executives to help build Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team for the 2026 Olympics. Getzlaf will work directly with Armstrong and Salmond, acting as a liaison between athletes, the executive committee and management groups for the four upcoming events, ensuring consistency between teams, athletes and staff.

“There is a wealth of experienced and successful Canadian executives throughout the NHL, and we believe Doug is the best person to lead our National Men’s Team and build our management groups from a talented pool of executives at each event leading up to and including the 2026 Olympics,” McLaughlin said. “Doug and Ryan both bring accomplished careers and many years of NHL and international experience to Hockey Canada, and Scott has been instrumental in the success of Canada’s national teams at all levels for more than 20 years.

“We know all three individuals will be invaluable pieces of our executive committee as we build teams that will make Canadians proud over the next two years. Wearing the Maple Leaf is an honour and a privilege, and our executive committee is committed to ensuring our players and staff are supported on and off the ice to achieve continued success, while upholding the character and values that Canadians expect of our organization and teams.”

Armstrong has won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the management group with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team (2010, 2014), as well as the 2016 World Cup of Hockey championship as general manager. He was also announced as general manager of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team for the 2022 Olympics if NHL players participated. Armstrong has won gold medals at the IIHF World Championship in 2007 (special assistant), 2016 (senior advisor) and 2023 (general manager), and silver in 2008 (assistant general manager) and 2009 (general manager). He was also part of the Worlds staff in 2002 and 2013. Armstrong is in his 14th season (2010-24) as general manager of the St. Louis Blues, also serving as president of hockey operations, winning the Stanley Cup in 2019 and the NHL GM of the Year Award in 2011-12. He recently became the 11^th NHL general manager to record 800 career wins, and is the second-fastest to reach 800 win milestone. Armstrong previously spent 16 years (1992-2008) with the Dallas Stars, winning the Stanley Cup as assistant general manager in 1999.

Getzlaf is set to make his international management debut after a 17-year playing career with the Anaheim Ducks (2005-22), with whom he served as captain for 12 seasons (2010-22) and won the Stanley Cup in 2007. Getzlaf appeared in 1,157 NHL games, recording 1,019 points (282 goals, 737 assists), appearing in three NHL All-Star Games (2008, 2009, 2015). Internationally, he won gold medals at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship, 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, and 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games, in addition to the2016 World Cup of Hockey. Getzlaf also won silver at the 2004 World Juniors and 2008 IIHF World Championship, suited up at the 2002 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and captained Team Canada at the 2012 Worlds. He is in his first season as player development coordinator with Anaheim.

Salmond was promoted to senior vice-president of hockey operations with Hockey Canada in 2018 after serving as vice-president of national teams for four years. In this position, Salmond oversees all operations for Canada’s men’s, women’s and para hockey teams. He has helped lead Canada to gold medals at two Olympic Winter Games (2010, 2014), six IIHF World Championships (2003, 2004, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023), seven IIHF World Junior Championships (2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2023), two IIHF U18 World Championships (2013, 2021), one IPC World Para Hockey Championship (2017) and one Paralympic Winter Games (2006), as well as a World Cup of Hockey championship (2016) and a Spengler Cup three-peat (2015, 2016, 2017). Salmond joined Hockey Canada in 2001 and has held increasingly senior high-performance roles during his tenure with the organization.

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

CALGARY, Alberta – The following are statements on behalf of Hockey Canada on the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) decision to participate in the 2026 and 2030 Olympic Winter Games, and host the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off:

“Earlier today, the NHL, NHLPA and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) made a highly anticipated announcement that NHL players will participate in the 2026 and 2030 Olympic Winter Games, and that the NHL will host the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. Hockey Canada recognizes this was a lengthy process that required a lot of deliberation and consideration, and we believe this decision is in the best interest of not only Team Canada, but international hockey as a whole.

“The participation of NHL players on the international stage in 2025 and at the Olympics marks a return to best-on-best competition in men’s hockey, and we know this decision will be well-received among the sporting community and hockey fans across the globe. We look forward to supporting our men’s, women’s and para hockey teams in their journey to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

• Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada and co-chair of Canada’s Winter Sport Caucus 

“Representing Canada at the Olympic Winter Games is the pinnacle of sport, and the decision by the NHL and NHLPA to return to the Olympics and host the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 is a significant announcement for our organization. We are excited to begin the process of building teams that include the best Canadian NHL players from across the country for the first time since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and to surround those athletes with high-quality management, coaching and support staffs that will do everything they can to help our athletes achieve their goal of winning Olympic gold medals. 

“We look forward to working with our hockey operations staff to build teams for the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, and the 2026 and 2030 Olympics, with the goal of returning to the top of the podium beginning in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.”

• Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy

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

CALGARY, Alta. – The following is a statement from Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of hockey operations for Hockey Canada, following the hiring of André Tourigny as head coach of the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL).

“First, we want to extend our congratulations to André, who has an incredible opportunity to fulfill his goal of becoming a head coach in the NHL. André is driven to succeed and although we are disappointed to lose a head coach with his extensive hockey pedigree, he has made a significant impact on our national team program at every level. He has committed more than a decade to Hockey Canada and our success is in part due to his passion for the game, our organization and the players he has coached. We are thankful for his dedication and are excited as he takes this next step in his coaching career. On behalf of our entire organization, we wish André and his family the best and know he will be a great addition to the Arizona Coyotes organization.”

Tourigny, a native of Nicolet, Que., who was recently named a full-time coach with the national men’s program for four major international tournaments, first joined Hockey Canada in 2008. That year he won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Tourigny made four appearances at the IIHF World Junior Championship, earning a silver medal as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team in 2021. As an assistant coach, he won a gold medal in 2020 and silver medals in 2010 and 2011. Prior to joining Hockey Canada, the reigning CHL Coach of the Year had served as head coach and vice-president of hockey operations with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the past four seasons (2017-21), winning the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL coach of the year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Tourigny previously spent 11 seasons with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (2002-13) and one season with the Halifax Mooseheads (2016-17) of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). His position with Arizona will mark a return to the NHL for Tourigny, where he previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2013-15) and Ottawa Senators (2015-16).

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Hockey Canada for the opportunity to coach and represent Canada on the international stage,” said Tourigny. “In particular Tom Renney, Scott Smith and Scott Salmond, who believed in me and without their trust and support, I would not be the person and coach I am today. It has been an honour to work alongside some of the best people and hockey minds in the business and I am extremely proud and grateful to Hockey Canada for affording me this privilege.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media at Facebook and Twitter.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced that André Tourigny (Nicolet, Que.) has been formally hired on a one-year contract and will be part of Team Canada coaching staffs at four major upcoming international tournaments.

Tourigny will be an assistant coach at the 2021 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. He will return as head coach at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., and will serve as head coach at the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland.

Tourigny will remain with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and return to the club full-time after he has fulfilled his role with Hockey Canada. Tourigny becomes the first full-time coach with the men’s program since Marc Habscheid in 2005.

“We are extremely excited to welcome André Tourigny to Hockey Canada as a full-time coach for the 2021-22 season, as his extensive hockey pedigree makes him a key asset to our national teams,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada. “André’s knowledge, insight and international experience will be a critical factor in supporting our Olympic preparation in addition to leading Canada’s National Junior Team for the second consecutive year at the IIHF World Junior Championship. André will also contribute to our work with our NextGen players and coaches through his involvement with our development programs. We are thankful to the Canadian Hockey League and the Ottawa 67’s for their support in releasing André to Hockey Canada for next season.”

Tourigny took the reins as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team in 2020, earning a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. He previously won a gold medal as an assistant coach at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, in addition to silver as an assistant in 2010 and 2011. The reigning CHL Coach of the Year has served as head coach and vice-president of hockey operations with the 67’s for the past four seasons (2017-21), winning the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL coach of the year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Tourigny previously spent 11 seasons with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (2002-13) and one season with the Halifax Mooseheads (2016-17) of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2013-15) and Ottawa Senators (2015-16) in the National Hockey League. In addition to his four appearances at the World Juniors, Tourigny led Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team to a gold medal as head coach at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won gold as an assistant at the 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament.

“It is an honour and privilege to be trusted to serve as part of the coaching staff for four prestigious events like worlds, World Juniors and Olympics,” said Tourigny. “I want to thank Hockey Canada for the unbelievable opportunity, and I look forward to implementing plans for a successful season ahead. It is not an easy decision to take  time away from the Ottawa 67’s family and I am extremely grateful to the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group ownership as well as the entire hockey operations and front office staff for affording me this privilege.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media at Facebook and Twitter.

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – A journey that officially began in July 2017 with the announcement of the coaching staff and management group has culminated with a podium performance as Canada’s Men’s Olympic Hockey Team won bronze following a 6-4 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday.

It was Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C./SC Bern, NLA) who opened the scoring on a power play at 8:57 of the first frame, and within 31 seconds, the score was 2-1 Canada, as captain Chris Kelly (Toronto/Belleville, AHL) tipped in a shot at 9:28 to pull ahead after Martin Ruzicka had tied things up for the Czechs.

Derek Roy (Rockland, Ont./Linköping HC, SHL) made it 3-1 for Canada before the end of the first period – a score that would hold until the opening minutes of the third frame, when the teams combined for six goals in a fast-paced flurry that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Ebbett and Kelly potted their second goals of the game, and Wojtek Wolski (Toronto/Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL) added the extra buffer, scoring Canada’s sixth and final goal. [Full game stats and story available at HockeyCanada.ca.]

“It’s extremely special. The way we came out and started this game after a disappointing loss last night, I thought it really showed the character of the group. We didn’t want [the semifinal loss] to be the defining moment for our hockey team. We’re a hard-working group,” said Kelly, responding to reporters’ questions on what it means to bring home bronze. “We had so many great leaders on this team. I was able to play with great players and find spots tonight [to contribute]; it’s quite the group.”

In preliminary-round action, the Canadians posted a 2-0-1 record, winning their games against Switzerland and South Korea, and posting a shootout loss to the Czech Republic. Canada went on to win the quarter-final over Finland by a score of 1-0, and they were edged 4-3 by Germany in the semifinals.

“You’ve got to give a lot of credit to the players. We talked about representing your country, we talked about being part of the medals for Canada. [Team Canada has] set a record, and we wanted to be part of that. It was [about] more than just us. They didn’t come over here just to march in the Opening Ceremony - they–wanted to do something special,” said head coach Willie Desjardins (Climax, Sask.) of the team’s performance to ensure they secured the bronze medal. Desjardins spoke of the inspiration the team drew from management group member Martin Brodeur’s story about his father’s Olympic bronze medal that hung on their wall growing up. Brodeur’s father, Denis, played in the 1956 Olympic Winter Games, backstopping Canada to a bronze medal in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. “We talked about how special this one chance [is], and how last night didn’t go the way we wanted, but I think that’s how their whole career has gone. Some things don’t go the way they wanted, but they just don’t give up. I’m really proud of our guys because they battled tonight.”

On January 11, the 25 players selected to Canada’s Men’s Olympic Hockey Team were announced. The team gathered in Riga, Latvia, for its pre-competition camp, and blanked both Latvia and Belarus in pre-tournament action before travelling to South Korea where it won its final tune-up game against Sweden before beginning Olympic action.

The players were selected by Canada’s National Men’s Team general manager Sean Burke (Windsor, Ont./Montreal, NHL), management group member Brodeur (Montreal/St. Louis, NHL), Hockey Canada’s chief executive officer, Tom Renney (Cranbrook, B.C.), president and chief operating officer, Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), and vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), with input from the coaching staff – Desjardins and assistant coaches Dave King (Saskatoon, Sask.), Scott Walker (Cambridge, Ont./Vancouver, NHL), and Craig Woodcroft (Toronto/Genève-Servette HC, NLA).

For more information on Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter.com/HC_Men.

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – As the team moves in to the Olympic Village and prepares for its final pre-tournament game ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team has revealed the six players who will make up its leadership group.

Wearing the ‘C’ for the red-and-white is Chris Kelly (Toronto/Belleville, AHL), supported by a seasoned group in René Bourque (Lac La Biche, Alta./Djurgårdens IF, SHL), Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C./SC Bern, NLA), Chris Lee (MacTier, Ont./Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL), Derek Roy (Rockland, Ont./Linköping HC, SHL), and Maxim Noreau (Montreal/SC Bern, NLA).

“We are very fortunate that this team is full of leaders, and I think that reflects very well on the type of people that hockey produces,” said head coach Willie Desjardins (Climax, Sask.), of the selection. “This leadership group will set the pace not only on the ice with their drive and work ethic, but also off the ice as we all embrace the tremendous opportunity to represent Canada and Canada’s game on the world stage in PyeongChang.”

Bourque, Ebbett, Lee, and Roy will rotate wearing the ‘A’ as on-ice alternate captains during the tournament.

Chris Kelly’s playing career includes a Spengler Cup championship with Canada in 2017, and winning the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. Kelly played 833 NHL games, including 82 with the Ottawa Senators last season. His Major Junior career was spent with the OHL’s London Knights and Sudbury Wolves.

René Bourque has represented Canada at the 2017 Channel One Cup, 2017 Karjala Cup, and 2010 IIHF World Championship. Following four seasons of NCAA hockey with the University of Wisconsin, Bourque logged ice time with AHL and NHL teams over 12 seasons, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and Colorado Avalanche.

Andrew Ebbett won back-to-back Spengler Cup championships for Canada (2016, 2017), in addition to wearing the Maple Leaf at the 2017 Karjala Cup and 2017 Sochi Hockey Open. Ebbett currently leads SC Bern in scoring, and won the NLA championship with the team in 2016 and 2017. Ebbett served as captain for one season during his four years of NCAA hockey with the University of Michigan before moving on to playing nine seasons in the AHL and NHL with teams such as Anaheim, where he made his NHL debut, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver.

Chris Lee has won two silver medals for Canada – at the 2017 IIHF World Championship and 2016 Deutschland Cup – in addition to representing his country at the 2012 Deutschland Cup, 2017 Karjala Cup, and 2017 Channel One Cup. Lee led Magnitogorsk defencemen in scoring in 2015-16 and 2016-17, and won the KHL’s Gagarin Cup with the team in 2016. During his amateur career, Lee captained the Parry Sound Shamrocks of the OPJHL in 1999-2000.

Derek Roy has won gold for Canada at the 2000 Four Nations Cup in Slovakia with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, silver at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, silver at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, and is a 2015 Spengler Cup champion. Drafted in the second round of the 2001 NHL draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Roy led the team in scoring during the 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10 seasons. He captained the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers in 2002-03, the year the club won the Memorial Cup.

Maxim Noreau is a three-time Spengler Cup champion (2012, 2016, 2017) who also represented Canada at the Spengler Cup in 2013, at the 2017 Sochi Hockey Open, and at the 2017 Channel One Cup. Noreau won the NLA championship with SC Bern in his first season with the team in 2016-17, and has been a leading defenceman in scoring during his four seasons in the NLA. He played three seasons with the Tigres de Victoriaville (QMJHL) during his amateur career, serving as captain of the team during the 2006-07 season.

Canada in final preparation for Olympic Games

On January 11, the 25 players selected to Canada’s Men's Olympic Team were announced. The team gathered in Riga, Latvia, for its pre-competition camp, and blanked both Latvia and Belarus in pre-tournament action. The Canadian squad travelled to South Korea on Wednesday, and will face Sweden in Incheon on Sunday in a final pre-Olympic tune-up. 

The players were selected by Canada’s National Men’s Team general manager Sean Burke (Windsor, Ont./Montreal, NHL), management group member Martin Brodeur (Montreal/St. Louis, NHL), Hockey Canada’s chief executive officer, Tom Renney (Cranbrook, B.C.), president and chief operating officer, Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), and vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), with input from the coaching staff – Desjardins and assistant coaches Dave King (Saskatoon, Sask.), Scott Walker (Cambridge, Ont./Vancouver, NHL), and Craig Woodcroft (Toronto/Genève-Servette HC, NLA).

The Olympic men’s hockey tournament opens on Friday, Feb. 15 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung, when Canada – playing in Group A - meets Switzerland. The gold-medal game is set to take place on Feb. 25.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) have announced the names of the 25 players nominated to represent Team Canada in men’s hockey at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Feb. 9-25, in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Canada’s roster includes three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards:

• Goaltenders: Justin Peters (Blyth, Ont./Kölner Haie, DEL), Kevin Poulin (Montreal/Medvescak Zagreb, EBEL), Ben Scrivens (Spruce Grove, Alta./Salavat Yulaev Ufa, KHL);
• Defencemen: Stefan Elliott (Vancouver/HV71, SHL), Chay Genoway (Morden, Man./Lada Togliatti, KHL), Cody Goloubef (Oakville, Ont./Stockton, AHL), Marc-André Gragnani (L’Île-Bizard, Que./HC Dinamo Minsk, KHL), Chris Lee (MacTier, Ont./Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL), Maxim Noreau (Montreal/SC Bern, NLA), Mat Robinson (Calgary/CSKA Moscow, KHL), Karl Stollery (Camrose, Alta./Dinamo Riga, KHL);
• Forwards: René Bourque (Lac La Biche, Alta./Djurgårdens IF, SHL), Gilbert Brulé (Edmonton/Kunlun Red Star, KHL), Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C./SC Bern, NLA), Quinton Howden (Oakbank, Man./HC Dinamo Minsk, KHL), Chris Kelly (Toronto/Belleville, AHL), Rob Klinkhammer (Lethbridge, Alta./Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Brandon Kozun (Calgary/Lokomotiv Yaroslav, KHL), Maxim Lapierre (Brossard, Que./HC Lugano, NLA), Eric O’Dell (Ottawa/HC Sochi, KHL), Mason Raymond (Cochrane, Alta./SC Bern, NLA), Derek Roy (Rockland, Ont./Linköping HC, SHL), Christian Thomas (Toronto/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL), Linden Vey (Wakaw, Sask./Barys Astana, KHL), Wojtek Wolski (Toronto/Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL).

Players will be joining Team Canada from six different leagues across North America and Europe. Among them there are 25 appearances as part of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, including gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship (Goloubef - 2009) and the IIHF U18 World Championship (O’Dell - 2008). Eight players have competed at the IIHF World Championship, and 10 have won the Spengler Cup for Canada, including seven who were part of the 2017 tournament (Ebbett, Goloubef, Lapierre, Noreau, Poulin, Raymond and Thomas). There are 5,544 NHL games played – with Kelly, a 2011 Stanley Cup champion with the Boston Bruins, having played the most of the group (833).

“It has been an exciting journey to arrive at this 25-player roster, and I want to congratulate these players on earning their place in history to represent Canada on the biggest sporting stage in the world – the Olympic Winter Games,” said general manager Sean Burke  (Windsor, Ont./Montreal, NHL). “I want to thank Hockey Canada, the management group, our coaches and our team staff for ensuring that we had all of the resources we needed to focus on assembling a team that Canadians will be proud to cheer on in PyeongChang. We have a very special group of talented players and staff who are ready to compete in South Korea next month, and we will cherish the opportunity we’ve been given to stand alongside the other Canadian Olympians and represent the red-and-white.”

The nominated team was selected by Burke, assistant general manager, Martin Brodeur (Montreal/St. Louis, NHL), Hockey Canada’s chief executive officer, Tom Renney (Cranbrook, B.C.), president and chief operating officer, Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), and vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), with input from head coach Willie Desjardins (Climax, Sask.), and assistant coaches Dave King (Saskatoon, Sask.), Scott Walker (Cambridge, Ont./Vancouver, NHL), and Craig Woodcroft (Toronto/Genève-Servette HC, NLA).

“The pride and honour that comes with representing your country at the Olympic Games is a feeling that can’t be accurately described,” said Renney, who was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team in 1994, where he guided the Canadian Men’s Olympic Hockey Team to silver as head coach. “We have 25 unique and very special stories wrapped up within this team – stories that Canadians will rally behind, not only because of what these players do on the ice, but of what they are capable of off the ice. And beyond the players are a group of dedicated staff who have done everything in their power to ensure the Canadians we had identified as Olympic prospects were able to go out and focus on the task-at-hand.

“As an Olympic coach myself, and a leader of hockey in Canada, I appreciate the role the Olympic Games have in showcasing not just the game of hockey, but also Canada’s passion for our game, and inspiring the next generation of athletes to get on the ice. I know this year’s Olympic hockey team will succeed in igniting that passion not only in Canada, but around the world.”

“This team proves the depth of Canadian hockey” said Isabelle Charest, PyeongChang 2018 Team Canada chef de mission. “All of Canada will rally behind this team as it sets out to show the world that we will always be a force to be reckoned with on the ice. We will be cheering 36 million strong as the team competes for gold.”

“We all know that Canadians are crazy for hockey, so there’s no doubt everyone back home will be watching and cheering” said the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “We are excited to be represented by this outstanding group of men as they go for the gold in PyeongChang. Let’s go Canada!”

Canada is traditionally a force to be reckoned with in men’s hockey, winning 13 medals, nine of them gold, since the first Olympic hockey tournament was held at Antwerp 1920. The team is looking to repeat as gold medallist for a third consecutive Olympic Winter Games, having won back-to-back tournaments at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014.

Team Canada opens its Olympic schedule on Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung, when it meets Switzerland in Group A. The gold-medal game is set to take place on Feb. 25.

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the COC’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations in late January 2018.