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

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 during the virtual draft – 89 of 223 – 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. 3 pick Mason McTavish.)

It's a sizeable increase over the 73 who were selected last October in the 2020 draft.

The list features representation from 10 Members, and 49 who have worn the Maple Leaf in international competition – 18 of them 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship gold medallists.

The red-and-white run started from the top, with 2021 IIHF World Championship gold medallist Owen Power going No. 1 to the Buffalo. The Mississauga, Ont., native is just the second Canadian defenceman to be taken with the first pick since 1996, joining Aaron Ekblad (2014).

From Mississauga, Ont., to gold at #IIHFWorlds to No. 1 in the #NHLDraft, Owen Power credits his family for helping him achieve his dreams.
@OHFHockey | @GTHLHockey | @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/ZZabIEQD1E

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 24, 2021

McTavish followed quickly behind, going to the Anaheim Ducks with the third pick. He was the first of eight U18 worlds gold medallists to go in Round 1, along with Brandt Clarke (eighth overall to Los Angeles), Dylan Guenther (ninth to Arizona), Brennan Othmann (16th to the New York Rangers), Wyatt Johnston (23rd to Dallas), Corson Ceulemans (25th to Columbus), Chase Stillman (29th to New Jersey) and Nolan Allan (32nd to Chicago).

Canadians accounted for 18 of the 31 first-round picks (Arizona forfeited its first-rounder at No. 11), the second-most in a single year since the draft became a truly global event in 1990, just one shy of the mark set last year.

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) was well represented among the Canadian contingent; 77 of the 89 players selected – including 15 of the 18 first-round picks – were products of CHL programs, from 46 different teams. The Western Hockey League led the way with 32 picks, followed by the Ontario Hockey League with 23 and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 22.

The Western Hockey League was the leading provider of talent during the 2021 #NHLDraft, with 33 players selected.

DETAILS 📰 | https://t.co/2DAwLG2ZpB pic.twitter.com/isLxyGwAwp

— The WHL (@TheWHL) July 24, 2021

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER

Ontario Hockey Federation (26) – Francesco Arcuri, Jack Bar, Jack Beck, Joshua Bloom, Talyn Boyko, Ethan Cardwell, Ethan Del Mastro, Justin Ertel, Benjamin Gaudreau, Braden Haché, Brett Harrison, Jacob Holmes, Wyatt Johnston, Tristan Lennox, Logan Mailloux, Jack Matier, Ayrton Marino, Max McCue, Brennan Othmann, Francesco Pinelli, Owen Power, Ben Roger, Chandler Romeo, Chase Stillman, Joe Vrbetic, Ryan Winterton

Hockey Alberta (16) – Gage Alexander, Corson Ceulemans, Lucas Ciona, Sebastian Cossa, Colton Dach, Ryker Evans, Jayden Grubbe, Dylan Guenther, Taige Harding, Dru Krebs, Gannon Laroque, Taylor Makar, Kyle Masters, Zack Ostapchuk, Sean Tschigerl, Olen Zellweger

Hockey Quebec (15) – Isaac Belliveau, Zachary Bolduc, Xavier Bourgault, Tyson Hinds, Zachary L’Heureux, Manix Landry, Joaquim Lemay, James Malatesta, Olivier Nadeau, Robert Orr, Guillaume Richard, Justin Robidas, Joshua Roy, Xavier Simoneau, William Trudeau

B.C. Hockey (9) – Caedan Bankier, Jake Chiasson, Tyson Galloway, Vincent Iorio, Kent Johnson, Carson Latimer, Jalen Luypen, Ethan Samson, Logan Stankoven

Hockey Nova Scotia (6) – Ben Boyd, Riley Kidney, Cameron MacDonald, Jacob Melanson, Oscar Plandowski, Cameron Whynot

Saskatchewan Hockey Association (6) – Nolan Allan, Ryder Korczak, Ryan McCleary, Josh Pillar, Cole Sillinger, Max Wanner

Hockey Eastern Ontario (4) – Brandt Clarke, Connor Lockhart, Mason McTavish, Pasquale Zito

Hockey Manitoba (4) – Cole Jordan, Tyson Kozak, Carson Lambos, Conner Roulette

Hockey New Brunswick (2) – Cole Huckins, Evan Nause

Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador (1) – Zach Dean

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

2021 National Men’s Team
Owen Power

2021 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Nolan Allan, Corson Ceulemans, Brandt Clarke, Benjamin Gaudreau, Dylan Guenther, Brett Harrison, Wyatt Johnston, Jack Matier, Mason McTavish, Brennan Othmann, Francesco Pinelli, Guillaume Richard, Logan Stankoven, Chase Stillman, Ryan Winterton, Olen Zellweger

2019 World Junior A Challenge
East: Ayrton Martino

West: Corson Ceulemans, Kent Johnson

2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Black: Corson Ceulemans, Brandt Clarke, Zach Dean, Ethan Del Mastro, Benjamin Gaudreau, Jayden Grubbe, Zachary L’Heureux, James Malatesta, Max McCue, Brennan Othmann, Sean Tschigerl, Cameron Whynot, Ryan Winterton

White: Jack Beck, Dylan Guenther, Brett Harrison, Tyson Hinds, Riley Kidney, Carson Lambos, Mason McTavish, Oscar Plandowski, Guillaume Richard, Justin Robidas, Cole Sillinger, Chase Stillman

Red: Nolan Allan, Joshua Bloom, Zachary Bolduc, Jacob Holmes, Wyatt Johnston, Connor Lockhart, Kyle Masters, Olivier Nadeau, Evan Nause, Francesco Pinelli, Conner Roulette, Joshua Roy, Logan Stankoven, Olen Zellweger

2019 National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team
Tristan Lennox

2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Black: Joe Vrbetic

White: Xavier Bourgault, Sebastian Cossa, Tristan Lennox, Owen Power

2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Red: Xavier Simoneau

CALGARY, Alta. – Preparations for the 2021-22 season are underway, and Hockey Canada will be working with three accomplished Canadian Hockey League (CHL) executives as part of its Program of Excellence (POE) management group.

Philippe Boucher (Saint-Apollinaire, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL) and Peter Anholt (Naicam, Sask./Lethbridge, WHL) will make their debuts as members of the POE management group, guiding the under-17 and under-18 programs, respectively. James Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) will return to the program after an abbreviated 2020-21 season, and will advise the under-20 program and Canada’s National Junior Team. 

The management group will work alongside Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of national teams, and Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, as well as 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.

“We are excited to welcome Philippe and Peter to the Program of Excellence to lead our U17 and U18 programs, and to welcome James back to the program at the U20 level,” said Salmond. “All three men have had incredible success in the Canadian Hockey League and bring their expertise in helping build successful junior hockey teams. We know their leadership and contributions will be beneficial to athletes and staff throughout the upcoming season as we continue to develop and excel throughout all levels of the program.”

Boucher has served as general manager of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the past two seasons. Prior to joining Drummondville, he served as head coach and general manager of the Quebec Remparts for five seasons (2013-18), leading the team to the semifinals at the 2015 Memorial Cup. Boucher was also the general manager of the Rimouski Océanic for two seasons (2011-13), winning the Maurice-Filion Trophy as the QMJHL’s general manager of the year in 2013. As a player, he collected 300 points over 16 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009.

Anholt took over as head coach and general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2014-15 after beginning the season as the assistant general manager. For the past six seasons he has served as general manager of the Hurricanes, winning the WHL Executive of the Year award in 2016 and 2020. Prior to joining Lethbridge, Anholt was a scout for the Seattle Thunderbirds (2012-14) and Red Deer Rebels (2007-09), and was also an assistant coach with Red Deer for two seasons (1998-2000). He began his coaching career in the WHL as an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders (1986-88) before being promoted to head coach and director of hockey operations for the 1988-89 season. Anholt has also served as head coach with Seattle (1989-95) and the Kelowna Rockets (1996-98), and returned to the Prince Albert bench as head coach for five seasons (2002-07). As a player, he captained the Prince Albert Raiders of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) to a Centennial Cup title as national Junior A champions in 1981. 

Boyd will oversee the under-20 program for the first time after being selected to lead the under-17 program in 2020-21. He previously served as director of operations for Team Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, was an assistant coach at the 2004 IIHF U18 World Championship and was the head coach of Team Ontario at the 2005 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Boyd has been the general manager of the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) since 2017, winning the inaugural Jim Gregory Trophy as OHL general manager of the year in 2020. He also led Ottawa to the OHL final in 2019 after winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the league’s best regular-season team. Boyd spent time with the Belleville Bulls (1999-2004), Toronto/Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (2004-12) and Mississauga Steelheads (2012-17) of the OHL, helping lead the Majors to a runner-up finish at the 2011 Memorial Cup.

The Program of Excellence will continue to be overseen by Tom Renney (Cranbrook, B.C.), Hockey Canada CEO; Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), Hockey Canada president and COO; Dan MacKenzie (Guelph, Ont.), CHL president; David Branch (Bathurst, N.B.), OHL commissioner; Gilles Courteau (Trois-Rivières, Que.), QMJHL commissioner; and Ron Robison (Indian Head, Sask.), WHL commissioner.

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

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada continues preparations for the 2020-21 season with a virtual four-day Program of Excellence goaltending camp from June 9-12.

Typically serving as the initial evaluation stage for summer development and selection camps for Canada’s national men’s teams, the online camp will focus on goaltender development and evaluation through online education.

Twenty-three of the top goaltenders in Canada will participate in camp, as well as 11 elite-level instructors. The list of goaltenders includes five at the under-20 level, six at the under-18 level and 12 at the under-17 level.

“The Program of Excellence goaltending camp is a great opportunity to bring together the top young goaltenders in the country and assist with the development process for these athletes,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada. “Despite the unique nature of this year’s camp and the switch to an online delivery for our programs, we believe all 23 goalies will benefit from world-class instruction as we continue to prepare for a new season.”

Online sessions will include goaltender development, mental and physical performance, planning for short-term competition, environments for success, embracing the role of a back-up goaltender and more.

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

CALGARY, Alta. – Preparations for the 2020-21 season are underway, and Hockey Canada will be working with three accomplished Canadian Hockey League (CHL) executives as part of its Program of Excellence management group.

James Boyd (Mississauga, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) will make his debut as a member of the POE management group with the under-17 program, guiding three Canadian teams at the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I. Martin Mondou (Grand-Mère, Que./Shawinigan, QMJHL) and Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont./Moose Jaw, WHL) return to the program for the third-consecutive year, with Mondou taking over the under-18 program for the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and Millar advising the under-20 program and Canada’s National Junior Team.

The management group will work alongside Shawn Bullock (Wainwright, Alta.), Hockey Canada’s director of men’s national teams, and head scout Brad McEwen (Whitewood, Sask.), as well as Hockey Canada’s national teams 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.

In addition, André Tourigny (Nicolet, Que./Ottawa, OHL) has been named the head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team for the upcoming season. Tourigny returns to the team after helping Canada to a gold medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant coach.

“We are excited to provide consistency to our Program of Excellence by welcoming Martin and Alan back to the program at the U18 and U20 levels, and to have James guide our U17 group,” said Bullock. “We are also thrilled to have André return to Canada’s National Junior Team and build on the momentum from winning a gold medal at the 2020 World Juniors. We believe these four men will provide outstanding leadership as we prepare for the upcoming season, and their experience will prove to be a great asset as we continue to build and excel at all levels of the program.”

Boyd will oversee the under-17 program for the first time after serving as director of operations for Team Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He previously served as an assistant coach at the 2003 U18 Junior World Cup and 2004 IIHF U18 World Championship, and was the head coach of Team Ontario at the 2005 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Boyd has been the general manager of the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) since 2017, leading the team to the OHL Championship Series in 2019 after winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the OHL’s best regular-season team. He also spent time with the Belleville Bulls (1999-2004), Toronto St. Michael’s Majors and Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (2004-12), and Mississauga Steelheads (2012-17) of the OHL, leading the Majors to a runner-up finish at the 2011 Memorial Cup.

Mondou will take over the under-18 program after leading the under-17 program the last two seasons, which included the 2018 and 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenges. He has been general manager of the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) since the 2007-08 season, leading the Cataractes to the QMJHL final in 2009 and 2016, and to a Memorial Cup championship in 2012. Mondou won the Trophée Maurice-Fillion as QMJHL general manager of the year in 2014-15.

Millar moves up to the under-20 program after overseeing the under-18 program for the past two seasons, which included a gold and silver medals with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2018 and 2019. Millar was named director of hockey operations for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2010, and became general manager in 2012. He has also spent time with the Sarnia Sting, Guelph Storm and St. Michael’s Majors of the OHL, winning a league championship with the Storm in 1998.

Tourigny takes over as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team after winning a gold medal as an assistant at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. He is currently in his third season as head coach and vice-president of hockey operations with the Ottawa 67’s, where he won the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL coach of the year in 2018-19. Tourigny previously spent 11 seasons with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (2002-13) and one season with the Halifax Mooseheads (2016-17) of the 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. He 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. Tourigny also won back-to-back silver medals as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2010 and 2011.

The Program of Excellence will continue to be overseen by Tom Renney (Cranbrook, B.C.), Hockey Canada CEO; Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), Hockey Canada president and COO; Dan MacKenzie (Guelph, Ont.), CHL president; David Branch (Bathurst, N.B.), OHL commissioner; Gilles Courteau (Trois-Rivières, Que.), QMJHL commissioner; and Ron Robison (Indian Head, Sask.), WHL commissioner.

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

CALGARY, Alta. – Preparations for the 2019-20 season are underway, and Hockey Canada will be working with three accomplished Canadian Hockey League (CHL) veterans as part of its Program of Excellence management group.

Martin Mondou (Grand-Mère, Que./Shawinigan, QMJHL) and Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont./Moose Jaw, WHL) are back with the program for the second-consecutive year, with Mondou returning to the under-17 program and Millar rejoining the under-18 program. Mondou will guide and support three teams at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat, Alta., and Swift Current, Sask., while Millar will advise and support the Canadian contingents at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2020 IIHF U18 World Championship. Mark Hunter (Petrolia, Ont./London, OHL) returns to the POE for the first time since the 2013-14 season, taking over the under-20 program and Canada’s National Junior Team.

The management group will work alongside Shawn Bullock (Wainwright, Alta.), Hockey Canada’s director of men’s national teams, and head scout Brad McEwen (Whitewood, Sask.), as well as Hockey Canada’s national teams 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.

“We are excited to provide consistency to our Program of Excellence by welcoming Martin and Alan back to the U17 and U18 programs, and to welcome Mark’s expertise back to the program at the U20 level,” said Bullock. “We believe these men will provide outstanding leadership as we prepare for international competition, and their combination of CHL and NHL experience will prove to be a great asset as we continue to build and excel at all levels of the program.”

Mondou has led and supported the under-17 program this season, with Team Canada Red, Team Canada Black and Team Canada White finishing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He has been general manager of the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) since the 2007-08 season, leading the Cataractes to the QMJHL final in 2009 and 2016, and to a Memorial Cup championship in 2012. Mondou won the Trophée Maurice-Fillion as QMJHL general manager of the year in 2014-15.

Millar has overseen the under-18 program this season, including a gold medal for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta. Millar was named director of hockey operations for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2010, and became general manager in 2012. He has also spent time with the Sarnia Sting, Guelph Storm and St. Michael’s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), winning a league championship with the Storm in 1998. 

Hunter rejoined the London Knights as general manager last summer after spending four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, serving as director of player personnel (2014-16) and assistant general manager (2016-18). Prior to joining the Maple Leafs, Hunter spent 14 seasons as general manager of the Knights, winning OHL championships in 2005, 2012 and 2013, and a Memorial Cup in 2005. The OHL executive of the year in 2003-04, Hunter won the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 during a 12-year professional career. He briefly worked with the Program of Excellence management group in 2013-14 before joining the Maple Leafs.

The Program of Excellence Policy Committee, comprised of Tom Renney (Cranbrook, B.C.), Hockey Canada CEO; Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), Hockey Canada president and COO; David Branch (Bathurst, N.B.), CHL president and OHL commissioner; Gilles Courteau (Trois-Rivières, Que.), QMJHL commissioner; and Ron Robison (Calgary, Alta.), WHL commissioner, will continue to oversee the program.

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

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada will lean on 20 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) coaches to guide Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as well as Canada’s national under-17 program for the 2022-23 season.

On the under-18 side, Stéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) will take the reins as head coach, joined by assistant coaches Alan Letang (Renfrew, Ont./Sarnia, OHL) and Kris Mallette (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL), as well as goaltending coach Kelly Guard (Prince Albert, Sask./Prince Albert, WHL) and video coach Raphaël-Pier Richer (Gatineau, Que./Gatineau, QMJHL).

“We are excited to announce the coaching and support staff that will lead our National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team through selection camp and at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said Tyler Dietrich (West Vancouver, B.C.), senior manager of hockey operations with Hockey Canada. “We know this group will use its CHL experience to help build and a lead a team that will represent Canada with pride and give us the best chance to win gold on home ice in Red Deer in August.”

Julien has been the head coach and general manager of the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the past two seasons. He has been the head coach since 2016 and was an assistant from 2012-16. Julien was also an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship and head coach of Team Canada Black at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

Letang recently completed his first season as head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Prior to joining the Sting, he spent five seasons with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack as an assistant coach (2016-19) and head coach (2019-20). Letang also won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Mallette has served as head coach of the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for two seasons (2020-22) after serving six seasons (2014-20) as an assistant. He was named an assistant coach of Team Canada Black for the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which was cancelled due to COVID-19, and was the head coach of Team Canada Red at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

For a full list of Staff for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please click here

Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will gather in Calgary for selection camp from July 20-23 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park ahead of the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, presented by RAM. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup will make its return to Canada, with Red Deer, Alta., hosting the top under-18 players in the world at the Peavey Mart Centrium, July 31-Aug. 6.

On the under-17 side, Mark O’Leary (Owen Sound, Ont./Moose Jaw, WHL), Bruce Richardson (Montréal, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL) and Greg Walters (Toronto, Ont./Owen Sound, OHL) will serve as head coaches of the three under-17 teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – with coaching staffs being finalized in the coming months.

Joining the three head coaches will be assistant coaches Carl Mallette (Montréal, Que./Victoriaville, QMJHL), Devan Praught (Summerside, P.E.I./Swift Current, WHL), Jordan Smith (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Ryan Smith (Headingley, Man./Spokane, WHL), Rick Steadman (Oil Springs, Ont./London, OHL), and Chad Wiseman (Burlington, Ont./Guelph, OHL). Goaltending coaches Steve Mongrain (Proulxville, Que./Shawinigan, QMJHL), Franky Palazzese (Mississauga, Ont./Sarnia, OHL) and Byron Spriggs (Winnipeg, Man./Winnipeg, WHL), and video coaches Nick Biamonte (Bolton, Ont./Guelph, OHL), and Andrew Boucher (South Porcupine, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) will round out the coaching staff.

“The under-17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, and we are excited to welcome 15 coaches from across the CHL to help introduce the country’s top young players to our program,” said Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel with Hockey Canada. “All 15 coaches bring a unique skill set, combining international and junior hockey experience, and we look forward to the coaching staff helping deliver a world-class camp for all participants.”

O’Leary has held various coaching roles with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors since 2012, most recently serving as head coach for parts of the last three seasons (2019-22). He has represented Canada once as a coach, serving as an assistant with Team Canada Red at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Richardson has served as head coach of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada for the past four seasons (2018-22) and was previously the head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres from 2014-16. He was also an assistant coach with Team Canada Black at the November 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Walters recently completed his first season as head coach of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack after serving as head coach of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals for three seasons (2018-21). Internationally, he won a silver medal as an assistant coach with Team Canada East at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge and was head coach of Team Canada East at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge.

Mallette has been the head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres for the past two seasons (2020-22) and was an assistant coach with the team for three seasons (2017-20) prior to becoming head coach. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada Red at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

Praught was named head coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos on March 7 after serving as an assistant coach with the team during the 2021-22 season. He was also an assistant coach with Team Saskatchewan at the 2019 Canada Winter Games and is set to make his international debut behind the bench.

Jordan Smith has spent the past four seasons (2018-22) as an associate coach with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and was an associate with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves during the 2017-18 season. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada Black at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

Ryan Smith was named interim head coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs on Feb. 10 after serving as an associate coach for the past two seasons (2020-22). He was previously an assistant with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos (2015-18) and Medicine Hat Tigers (2018-20), and served as an assistant coach with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in 2012 and 2013, winning silver and bronze, respectively.

Steadman recently completed his sixth season as an assistant coach with the OHL’s London Knights, serving in the position since 2014-15. He is set to make his international coaching debut.

Wiseman has served as an associate coach with the OHL’s Guelph Storm for the past three seasons (2019-22) and was an assistant coach with the team during the 2018-19 season. He was named an assistant coach with Team Canada White for the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which was cancelled due to COVID-19, and served as an assistant with Team Canada White at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

For a list of staff for Canada’s National Under-17 Program, please click here

The coaching staff will oversee and lead 100 players at Canada’s national under-17 development camp, set for July 10-16 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. The staffs will also lead Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Langley and Delta, B.C., Nov. 5-12.

For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team and Canada’s national under-17 program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has invited 88 players to participate in Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp and Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp, set to take place this July at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

As part of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, 44 players – four goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 26 forwards – will compete for an opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alta. The selection camp, which takes place July 20-23, will include a variety of on- and off-ice sessions. Following the selection of the final roster on July 24, Team Canada will play a pair of games against Red and White teams from Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp.

Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.) , Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel, led the player selection process with assistance from Tyler Dietrich (Vancouver, B.C.), senior manager of hockey operations, and Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), manager of hockey operations and U17 head scout.

The player selection process also included Peter Anholt (Prince Albert, Sask./Lethbridge, WHL) and James Boyd (Mississauga, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) of the Program of Excellence management group, and the Canadian Hockey League general managers committee, made up of Pierre Cloutier (Rouyn-Noranda, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL), Kirt Hill (Winnipeg, Man./Edmonton, WHL), Jim Hulton (Wolfe Island, Ont./Charlottetown, QMJHL), John Paddock (Oak River, Man./Regina, WHL), Barclay Parneta (Saskatoon, Sask./Vancouver, WHL), Cam Russell (Halifax, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL) and Steve Staios (Hamilton, Ont./Hamilton, OHL).

“We are excited to bring together a group of 44 athletes with a solid foundation of junior and international experience for selection camp,” said Millar. “As our players are preparing to compete in short-term competition, we know all 44 players will come to camp ready to compete for a spot on the team and the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf in international competition.”

44 players – four goaltenders, 14 defenceman and 26 forwards – will also be on the ice in Calgary for Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp, set for July 23-27.

The camp roster features 26 players that have been selected in the NHL Draft, including eight first-round picks: Nolan Allan (CHI), Brandt Clarke (LAK), Corson Ceulemans (CBJ), Zach Dean (VGK), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Zachary L’Heureux (NSH), Brennan Othmann (NYR) and Chase Stillman (NJD).

“This is an exciting first step as we begin preparations for the upcoming season and the opportunity to compete at the 2023 World Juniors on home ice in Halifax and Moncton this December,” Millar added. “We are excited about this group of players, and we look forward to returning to the ice for a highly-competitive camp to kick off a new season.”

Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp staff will feature six experienced coaches from across the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), including Shaun Clouston (Viking, Alta./Kamloops, WHL), Steve Hartley (Hawkesbury, Ont./Drummondville, QMJHL) , Jim Hulton (Kingston, Ont./Charlottetown, QMJHL), Brent Kisio (Calgary, Alta./Lethbridge, WHL), Brad Lauer (Humboldt, Sask./Edmonton, WHL) and Ryan Oulahen (Newmarket, Ont./North Bay, OHL).

Clouston recently completed his third season as head coach of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, guiding the Blazers to a 48-17-3-0 record, good for top spot in the B.C Division. He was an assistant coach for Canada at back-to-back Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournaments in 2014 and 2015, and was behind the Canadian bench as head coach at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Hartley has served as head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for four seasons (2019-22) after serving two seasons (2017-18) as an assistant. Hartley was a camp coach at Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team summer development camp last year. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada Black at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Hulton just completed his sixth season as head coach and general manager of the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, guiding the franchise to its first-ever championship series appearance following a club-record 48-win season. Hulton was an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and won silver and gold as an assistant coach at the 2004 and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championships, respectively.

Kisio recently finished his seventh season as head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He most recently served as assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. Kisio previously coached Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, winning a gold medal, and has twice served on the coaching staff at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a silver medal with Team Pacific in 2014.

Lauer is in his fourth season as head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL), guiding the team to a WHL championship following a 50-win season. The recipient of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL coach of the year in 2019-20, Lauer made his debut with the Program of Excellence last summer, serving as a camp coach at Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team summer development camp.

Oulahen just completed his second full season as head coach of the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after being named interim head coach during the 2019-20 campaign. He spent just over two seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Flint Firebirds (2017-18) following six seasons as an assistant coach with Battalion. Oulahen won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, was head coach of Team Canada White at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and twice served as an assistant, with Team Canada Red in 2014 and Team Canada Black in 2015.

Hockey Canada announced in May that the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B., Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 5, 2023.

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

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced that two marquee international hockey events will be coming to Alberta this summer: the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, presented by RAM.

“While we were disappointed to have not been able to complete the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship as intended in December, our focus quickly shifted to hosting the event again when it was safe to do so,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “Now, fans will be able to cheer on Team Canada at the World Juniors in Edmonton and at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer.

“Under the most unique of circumstances, this summer will be unforgettable for Canadian hockey fans, and we cannot wait to drop the puck at both events.”

After being cancelled in December, the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship will return to Rogers Place in Edmonton from Aug. 9-20, in partnership with Oilers Entertainment Group. The results from games played in December will not be carried over to this summer’s World Juniors, and players born in 2002 or later will remain eligible to represent their respective countries.

Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States will form Group A, with Canada, Czechia, Finland, Latvia and Slovakia competing in Group B.

Tournament packages will be available to the general public on May 10 at HockeyCanada.ca, while Hockey Canada Insiders and fans who purchased tickets for the 2021 or 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship will have access to a pre-sale window beginning April 27.

Hosted in partnership with the Red Deer Rebels, the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, presented by RAM, will run from July 31-Aug. 6 at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer, Alta., marking the first time the best-on-best tournament has been hosted in Canada by one community.

Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will play its preliminary-round games in Group A against Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, while Czechia, Finland, Germany and the United States face each other in Group B.

Since its inception in 1991, the event has featured premier under-18 players from some of the world’s greatest hockey nations and has seen Canada win a tournament-record 22 gold medals.

Fans will be able to buy tournament packages beginning April 22 at HockeyCanada.ca.

“We are thrilled to bring these two marquee hockey events to fans in Canada this summer and provide safe environments for the competing teams to chase gold in Alberta,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “The economic impact of these tournaments will be in the millions of dollars for Edmonton, Red Deer and the Province of Alberta, and we are excited to work with both host communities to establish legacy initiatives that will impact the grassroots game in Alberta for years to come.”

Full tournament and broadcast schedules will be shared at a later date.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, become a Hockey Canada Insider, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.