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May 29, 2007
NR.080
CALGARY – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Tuesday that Craig
Hartsburg (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), who led Canada to its third consecutive IIHF World Junior Championship
gold medal in January, will return as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2008 IIHF World
Junior Championship.
 In addition, Curtis Hunt (Regina, WHL) and Clément Jodoin (Lewiston,
QMJHL) will also return as assistant coaches for Team Canada, the first time in the 26-year history of the
Program of Excellence that all three coaches will return for a second year. The coaching staff will also be
working with the same management group as in 2006, comprised of Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada’s Senior
Director, Men’s National Teams & Communications, Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s Director, Men’s National
Teams and Jim Hammett, Hockey Canada’s Head Scout.
“I consider the World Junior Championship to be one of the greatest hockey events there is, so it is a
great honour to be part of it once again,” said Hartsburg, who also won a gold medal as an assistant coach in
2006. “With that honour comes great responsibility, and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead, as well
as the opportunity to work with Curtis and Clément once again.”
“All three of these coaches bring tremendous international experience to the National Junior Team, and we
are thrilled that they have all agreed to be a part of the Program of Excellence for a second straight year,”
said Bob Nicholson, President of Hockey Canada.
The 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held from December 26th to January 5th in Pardubice and
Liberec, Czech Republic. Canada will open its defense of the Championship on December 26th when it takes on
the host Czech Republic in Pardubice.
While Hartsburg will lead Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship
beginning this coming December, a separate coaching staff will be named for the eight-game Canada/Russia
Super Series, which will be held in August/September, 2007 in Russia and Canada. More information on Canada’s
‘Super Series’ coaching staff will be released in the coming weeks.
The Canada/Russia Super Series, a one-time eight-game series featuring the best Under-20 players from
Canada and Russia, will take place from August 27th to September 9th, with the first four games to be held in
Russia, and the final four to be held in Canadian cities. Canadian locations and ticket information will be
announced in June.
With the advent of the Canada/Russia Super Series, Hockey Canada also announced on Tuesday that it will
not hold its annual National Junior Team summer development camp this year, which usually runs in early
August. Hockey Canada will announce a roster in June that will participate in the Canada/Russia ‘Super
Series’.
» 2008 World Junior Championship | Schedule
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