CALGARY, ALBERTA - The Canadian Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey League have named Brad McCrimmon as an assistant coach with Canada's World Championship Under-18 Team for the 2003 IIHF World Under 18 Hockey Championship, taking place this spring from April 12-22, 2003 in Yaroslavl, Russia.

McCrimmon will work under Team Canada's head coach Mike Kelly. The remaining coaching and support staff will be named within the next month.

McCrimmon, 43, currently works with the NHL's Calgary Flames on Special Assignments, Hockey. McCrimmon was an assistant coach under head coach Mike Pelino with Canada's National Men's Team at the 2003 Swiss Cup in February 2003. McCrimmon served as an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames for the 2000--02 seasons and part of the 2002-2003 season. Prior to joining the Calgary Flames organization, the native of Dodsland, SK was the head coach of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades from 1998-2000. McCrimmon played 1222 games in the NHL over 18 seasons, with Boston, Philadelphia, Calgary, Detroit, Hartford and Phoenix.

Canada's National Under 18 Program consists of two separate teams, assembled twice a year. The National Under-18 Summer Program, which captured a gold medal at the 2002 Eight Nations Cup in August, 2002, and Canada's Under-18 World Championship Team which Kelly will coach this in April.

Canada's 2003 World Championship Under-18 Team is comprised of players under 18 years old (born in 1985 or later) whose teams are not competing in either the CHL, Junior A or collegiate playoffs.

Canada's roster for the 2003 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship is expected to be named in early April 2003.