CALGARY, AB - Richard Liboiron, an assistant coach with the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, was named as an assistant coach for Canada's World Under 18 Team, which will take part in the IIHF World Under 18 Hockey Championship from April 11-21 in Piestany, Slovakia, the Canadian Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Wednesday.

Liboiron joins Head Coach Mike Pelino behind the bench. The CHA and CHL will be naming a second assistant coach prior to the team's convening on April 6th in Toronto, ON.

"We've assembled a terrific staff and I look forward to working with all of them, and in particular with Richard," said Head Coach Pelino. "With Richard's extensive coaching experience and international background at two World Under 17 Challenges, he'll be a great asset for the team."

In his first season with the Wildcats, Liboiron was also the head coach with Team Québec at the 2002 World Under 17 Challenge this past season, leading his team to a 4th place finish. Prior to joining the Wildcats, the native of Montreal, QC guided the Montreal-Bourassa Midget AAA team to the Air Canada Cup National Midget Championship, where they reached the championship game.
In August, 2001, Canada's National Under 18 Summer Team won a gold medal at the 2001 Six Nations Under 18 Cup in the Czech Republic.

Canada will be taking part in the IIHF World Under 18 Championship for the first time ever in 2002. Player evaluation will continue through the first round of the CHL playoffs and the final roster will be announced in early April. Player evaluation is overseen by the CHA's Director of Scouting, Barry Trapp in collaboration with three regional scouts, Jim Currie (West), Jim Cassidy (Ontario) and Serge Aubry (Quebec). Canada's 2002 World Championship Under 18 team will be comprised of players under 18 years old whose teams are not playing in either the CHL, Junior A or collegiate playoffs past .

The 2002 IIHF World Under 18 Championship in Slovakia will feature 12 teams. Russia captured the 2001 Championship on in Finland, by defeating Switzerland in the final.

The CHA also announced the members of the support staff comprised of Team Leader Scott Salmond (CHA), Video Manager Ryan Jankowski (CHA), Equipment Manager Jeff Lang (CHA), therapist Luc LeBlanc (Brampton, OHL), Team Doctor Roy Diklich (Windsor, OHL), Sports Psychologist Paul Dennis (Toronto, NHL) and Media Manager André Brin (CHA).