Brent Sutter Returns As Head Coach of Canada's National Junior Team in 2006

NR.079.05
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May 27, 2005
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CRAIG HARTSBURG AND CLEMENT JODOIN NAMED WJC ASSISTANT COACHES

CALGARY, ALBERTA – Brent Sutter, Head Coach, General Manager, and majority owner of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, was named by Hockey Canada and the CHL, as the Head Coach of Canada's 2006 National Junior Team. Sutter led Canada to a gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

With his appointment today, Sutter becomes the fourth head coach, since the inception of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence in 1977, to coach Canada’s National Junior Team in consecutive years (Stan Butler in 2001 (bronze), 2002 (silver); Dave King in 1982 (gold), 1983 (bronze); Terry Simpson in 1985 (gold), 1986 (silver).

Hockey Canada and the CHL also announced the appointment of Sutter’s assistant coaches for Canada’s 2006 National Junior Team:

  • Craig Hartsburg – Head Coach of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
  • Clement Jodoin – Head Coach of the QMJHL’s Lewiston Maineiacs

The 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in British Columbia (Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops) from through . The 2006 World Juniors will mark the seventh time that this international event has been staged in Canada and the first time it will be held in British Columbia. Other years in which Canada hosted this Championship were: 2003 (Halifax, NS), in 1999 (Winnipeg, MB), in 1995 (Red Deer, AB), in 1991 (Saskatoon, SK), in 1986 (Hamilton, ON), and in 1978 (Montreal, QC).

Sutter has been a part of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels for the past six seasons. The native of Viking, AB played 18 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders and the Chicago Blackhawks, and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the New York Islanders (19). Brent led the Red Deer Rebels to the WHL championship and won the 2001 Memorial Cup. He was named coach of the 20 WHL Eastern All-Star Team, 2001 CHL Prospects game Assistant Coach, and the 2001 CHL and WHL Coach of the Year and 2001 Executive of the Year. He holds a 253-126-38-15 career coaching record with the Rebels.

As a player, Sutter represented Canada on four occasions: 1991 Canada Cup (1st place), 1987 Canada Cup (1st place), 1984 Canada Cup (1st place) and the 1986 World Hockey Championship (bronze medal).

Hartsburg brings a wealth of coaching experience to Canada’s World Junior Championship team, including being Head Coach of the NHL’s Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from 1998-2001, Head Coach of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks from 1995-1998 and spent five years as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1990-94, and again in 2002-03, and spent one season as an assistant coach with the Minnesota North Stars in 1989-90. Hartsburg is the Head Coach of Sault Ste Marie in the OHL, his hometown. The 2006 World Junior Championship will be his first international experience as a coach, but has international experience as a player that includes winning a gold medal at the 1987 Canada Cup and won a silver medal at the 1981 Canada Cup. He also won bronze medals with Canada at both the 19 Men’s World Championships and finished fourth in Canada’s 1987 Worlds team. He won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 1978 IIHF World Junior Championship where he was named Top Defenceman. Hartsburg, a 1st round pick by the Minnesota North Stars (6th overall in 1979), played 10 seasons in the NHL with Minnesota recording 413 pts in 570 career NHL games.

Jodoin spent last season as the Head Coach of the QMJHL’s Lewiston Maineacs. His previous international coaching experience includes winning the 2003 Deutschland Cup with Canada’s National Men’s Team while serving as an assistant coach under Dave King, and winning a gold medal with Canada’s 2004 Under 18 team as an assistant coach at the 2004 Under-18 World Championship. Jodoin was an assistant coach with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens for four seasons (2002-03, 1997-2000) and was an assistant coach with Pittsburgh in 1987-88. He served as Head Coach and General Manager of the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) from 1994-97 and was named the QMJHL’s Coach of the Year in 1996-97 and was a finalist for the CHL Coach of the Year.

The appointments were announced following a thorough screening process carried out by Canada’s National Junior Team Policy Committee, which is made up of Bob Nicholson, President, Hockey Canada, Dave Branch, President of the Canadian Hockey League and Commissioner of the OHL, Gilles Courteau, the QMJHL Commissioner and WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. Hockey Canada was also represented by Marcel Redekop, vice-chair at large on the Hockey Canada Board and Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada’s Head Scout.

The coaching staff will welcome a group of players to Team Canada’s World Junior summer development camp which will take place in British Columbia in August. Location and dates will be announced in June. Hockey Canada’s Head Scout Blair Mackasey along with the coaching staff, will name in June the list of players that will invited to the National Junior Team’s Development Camp.

Canada has won gold at last year’s World Junior Championship and has won gold 11 times in the history of the championship, including eight of the last 16 gold medals awarded. Team Canada won an unprecedented five straight World Junior titles from 1993-97. Canada also took home silver medals in 2004 in Finland, 2003 in Halifax, NS, in 2002 in the Czech Republic and in 1999 in Winnipeg, MB as well as bronze medals in 2001 in Russia and in 2000 in Sweden.

Canada's first game of the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship will be on Monday, December 26th at 4pm PT / 7pm ET versus Finland. TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will again carry all of Canada's games LIVE from the World Junior Championship and will be the host broadcast of the event.

All Vancouver 21-game ticket packages are currently sold out. However, Kamloops and Kelowna 5-game ticket packages are still on-sale.People interested in purchasing packages for the Kamloops and Kelowna games should visit the Hockey Canada website at www.hockeycanada.ca or call Ticketmaster at (250) 828-3339 in Kamloops and/or Select Your Tickets at (250) 762-5050 in Kelowna.

Kamloops Package
Games: 5 game package @ Sport Mart Place
Gold Package: $125 per seat plus convenience and handling charges
How to Order: ContactTicketmaster at (250) 828-3339

Kelowna Package
Games: 5 game package @ Prospera Place
Gold Package: $125 per seat plus convenience and handling charges
How to Order: ContactSelect Your Tickets at (250) 762-5050

Team Canada will play pre-championship games in Kamloops and Kelowna in December, with tickets available through the above packages for an additional $20.

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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