CALGARY, Alta. – In search of its 16th Spengler Cup championship, Hockey Canada has named Sean Burke (Windsor, Ont./Montreal, NHL) general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Team, while Shane Doan (Halkirk, Alta.) will serve as a member of the management group and Misha Donskov (London, Ont./Vegas, NHL) will serve as director of hockey operations and assistant coach for the 2019 tournament, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.
In addition, Craig MacTavish (London, Ont.) will lead Team Canada as head coach, joined by assistant coach Paul Coffey (Weston, Ont.).
“Sean has been a valuable member of the management group for Canada’s National Men’s Team for a number of years, and we believe his experience combined with Shane’s storied career will be beneficial to our team as we look to capture another Spengler Cup,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “Our coaching staff will also bring a wealth of talent and experience from playing and coaching at the professional and international levels, and we are excited to have Craig, Paul and Misha work with the management group as we look to build a championship team.”
Burke, a professional scout and goaltending consultant with the Montreal Canadiens, won a bronze medal as general manager of Canada’s 2018 Men’s Olympic Team, and built the Canadian rosters that won two championships (2016, 2017) and finished as runner-up (2018) in the last three editions of the Spengler Cup. He has also been part of Team Canada management at four IIHF World Championships, winning two gold medals (2015, 2016) and two silver (2017, 2018). Burke is Canada’s all-time goaltending leader in games played (35), minutes played (1,991), and wins (21) at the IIHF World Championship – an event at which he won two gold and two silver medals in five appearances as a player. A two-time Olympian (1988, 1992), Burke won silver at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, and is an IIHF World Junior Championship silver medallist from 1986.
Doan most recently served as a consultant to the Team Canada management group at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, winning a silver medal. As a player, he represented Canada six times at the IIHF World Championship (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009) where he won two gold medals (2003, 2007) and three silver (2005, 2008, 2009). Doan also won a gold medal at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and wore the Maple Leaf at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. He played 21 seasons (1995-2017) with the Winnipeg Jets and Arizona Coyotes, and is the all-time franchise leader in goals (395), assists (560) and points (955). Prior to his professional career, Doan played three seasons with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, where he won a Memorial Cup in 1995.
Donskov is in his fourth season as director of hockey operations for the Vegas Golden Knights. He was previously an assistant coach with the London Knights (2009-12) and held the position of assistant general manager for one season (2011-12), winning an Ontario Hockey League championship in 2012. He also served as an associate coach with the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL and video coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team before joining Hockey Canada in 2014 as manager of hockey operations, analytics and video. During his time with Hockey Canada, Donskov won two IIHF World Championship gold medals – one as video coach (2015) and one as assistant coach (2016) - and won a gold medal at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship as video coach. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, winning the championship.
MacTavish was an assistant coach with the New York Rangers (1997-99) and Edmonton Oilers (1999-2000) before taking over as head coach of the Oilers for nine seasons (2000-09), leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006. He also spent one season as head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League in 2011-12 before returning to Edmonton as senior vice-president of hockey operations (2012-13 and 2015-19) and general manager (2013-15). On the international stage, MacTavish won two silver medals at the IIHF World Championship as an associate coach (2005, 2008), served as head coach of Canada at the 2009 Spengler Cup and 2010 IIHF World Championship, and won a bronze medal at the 2004 Loto Cup as an assistant coach. As a player, he played in 1,093 games over 17 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins (1979-84), Edmonton Oilers (1985-94), New York Rangers (1994), Philadelphia Flyers (1994-96) and St. Louis Blues (1996-97).
Coffey played in 1,409 NHL games and amassed more than 1,500 points over 21 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers (1980-87), Pittsburgh Penguins (1987-92), Los Angeles Kings (1992-93), Detroit Red Wings (1993-96), Hartford Whalers (1996), Philadelphia Flyers (1996-98), Chicago Blackhawks (1998), Carolina Hurricanes (1998-2000) and Boston Bruins (2000-01). A four-time Stanley Cup champion (1984, 1985, 1987, 1991), three-time Norris Trophy winner (1985, 1986, 1995), 2005 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players, he ranks second all-time in points by an NHL defenceman. Coffey also won three Canada Cup championships (1984, 1987, 1991), was runner-up at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and wore the Maple Leaf at the 1990 IIHF World Championship.
In its 93rd year, the Spengler Cup begins Dec. 26 with Canada facing HC Ocelari Trinec. Canada has won the tournament 15 times since first taking part in 1984, along with 10 runner-up finishes.
Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, TSN and RDS, will broadcast all games from the tournament, including the championship game on Dec. 31. Please check local listings for details.
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, Twitter or Twitter.com/HC_Men.