CALGARY (AB)– The Canadian Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey League have named Pascal Vincent 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.

Vincent joins previously named head coach Mike Kelly and assistant coach Brad McCrimmon to form the coaching staff.

Vincent, 31, has been the Head Coach and General Manager of Cape Breton (QMJHL) since 1999. He has also coached in the CHA’s Program of Excellence, leading Quebec’s Under-17 Team to a silver medal at the 1999 Canada Winter Games. Prior to joining Cape Breton, Vincent was the youngest head coach (25) in the history of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League, leading the Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudières Régents to the 1998-99 division championship in his third and final season at that level.

Canada’s roster for the 2003 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship is expected to be named in early April 2003. Canada will travel to Russia, leaving Toronto on April 6th

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

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.

The Canadian Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey League also named the support staff led by Director, High Performance Denis Hainault (Montréal, QC/CHA). Other members of the support staff include:

• Head Scout Blair Mackasey (Beaconsfield, QC/CHA)

• Video Coach Ryan Jankowski (Calgary, AB/CHA)

• Equipment Manager Jeff Lang (Regina, SK/CHA)

• Team Physician Dr. Rizqi Ibrahim (Swift Current, SK/Swift Current, WHL)

• Team Therapist Doug Stacey (Hamilton, ON)

• Coordinator, High Performance Ron Pyette (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/CHA)

• Education Consultant Jim Rooney (Guelph, ON/Guelph, OHL)

• CHA Officer Ken Corbett (Carleton Place, ON)