CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the management group that will build and lead Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia.
Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, Ont./St. Louis, NHL) will lead the Canadian contingent as general manager, joined by associate general manager Steve Yzerman (Nepean, Ont./Detroit, NHL), assistant general manager Shane Doan (Halkirk, Alta./Arizona, NHL) and senior vice-president of hockey operations Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.).
The management group will be supported by Tyler Dietrich (West Vancouver, B.C.), director of hockey operations, while a selection committee of three NHL executives – Jim McKenzie (Gull Lake, Sask./Vegas, NHL), Jamie Pushor (Lethbridge, Alta./Tampa Bay, NHL) and Tim Taylor (Stratford, Ont./St. Louis, NHL) - will assist with evaluating and selecting players for the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
“We are excited to unveil the experienced management group and selection committee that will lead Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, and that will help build the staff and roster that will wear the Maple Leaf in May,” Salmond said. “Doug, Steve and Shane have been successful in the NHL and at the Olympics, world championships and world cups, and Jim, Jamie and Tim bring critical NHL experience. We are fortunate to have six individuals with extensive pedigrees who are dedicated to helping us build towards our goal of winning a gold medal in Tampere and Riga.”
Armstrong has won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the management group for 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 also won gold medals at the IIHF World Championship in 2007 (special assistant) and 2016 (senior advisor), 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 13th season (2010-23) as general manager of the St. Louis Blues, where he also serves as president of hockey operations, winning the Stanley Cup in 2019 and the NHL GM of the Year Award in 2011-12. He previously spent 16 years (1992-2008) with the Dallas Stars, winning the Stanley Cup as assistant general manager in 1999.
Yzerman has won two Olympic gold medals as executive director of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team (2010, 2014). He also served as general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Team at three IIHF World Championships (2007, 2008, 2013), winning one gold medal (2007) and one silver (2008). Yzerman is currently in his fourth season as executive vice-president of hockey operations and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings after spending nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning as vice-president of hockey operations and general manager (2010-18) and senior advisor (2018-19). Prior to his tenure in Tampa Bay, he served as vice-president of hockey operations with Detroit for four seasons (2006-10). As a player, he represented Canada at two Olympics (1998, 2002), winning gold in 2002, and three IIHF World Championships (1985, 1989, 1990), winning two silver medals (1985, 1989), and won bronze at the 1983 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also won the 1984 Canada Cup and finished second at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Doan most recently served as general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2022 Spengler Cup. He won a silver medal as general manager at the 2022 IIHF World Championship and gold as assistant GM at the 2021 worlds. Doan served as general manager of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and was general manager and assistant coach at the 2021 Channel One Cup. He was part of the management staff at the 2019 Spengler Cup, winning the championship, and was a consultant at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, earning silver. As a player, he represented Canada at six IIHF World Championships, winning two gold medals (2003, 2007) and three silver (2005, 2008, 2009). Doan also won the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and wore the Maple Leaf at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. He joined the Arizona Coyotes as chief hockey development officer in January 2021.
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), five IIHF World Championships (2003, 2004, 2015, 2016, 2021), 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.
The management group will work together to select the coaching staff, support staff and roster for the 2023 IIHF World Championship, which will be announced at a later date.
Canada will open the tournament against the co-host Latvians on May 12 at 1:20 p.m. ET/10:20 a.m. PT. It will also take on Slovenia, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Norway and Czechia in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 28.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 IIHF World Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.