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Hockey Canada names Ron Hextall general manager of 2017 IIHF World Championship team

Sean Burke, Scott Salmond, Larry Carrière round out management group

NR.022.17
|
April 03, 2017

CALGARY, Alta. – The first pieces are in place for Hockey Canada as Canada’s National Men’s Team looks to three-peat at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Paris, France, and Cologne, Germany.

Ron Hextall (Brandon, Man./Philadelphia, NHL) returns to the management staff, this time as general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Team. Hextall was a member of the management group at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, and competed as a player at the 1992 IIHF World Championship.

Sean Burke (Windsor, Ont./Montreal, NHL) was named assistant general manager, while Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, and Larry Carrière (Montreal/Montreal, NHL), director of player personnel, round out the management group.

“These four gentlemen bring a tremendous amount of experience in hockey management and in international competition as we look to assemble the best possible team to represent Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championship,” said Tom Renney, president and chief executive officer, Hockey Canada. “With the NHL regular season winding down, some very quick and smart decisions need to be made in regards to coaching staff and player selections; Ron, Sean, Scott, and Larry are prepared for the work ahead, and their collective knowledge and experience will be invaluable as Team Canada quickly assembles in preparation for its opening game on May 5.”

Hextall was named executive vice-president and general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the start of the 2014-15 NHL season, having rejoined the organization in 2013 as assistant general manager and director of hockey operations. Prior to that, Hextall logged seven seasons as the vice-president and assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, where he helped the team capture the Stanley Cup in 2012. A goaltender during his playing career, he appeared in 608 games, amassing 296 wins, and helped the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Final as a rookie in 1987, and in 1997.

Burke is wrapping up his first season with the Montreal Canadiens as a professional scout. His international experience in management with Canada’s National Men’s Team includes serving as general manager of the 2016 Spengler Cup championship-winning team, and two IIHF World Championship gold medals, as director of player development in 2016, and as part of the management group in 2015. He was also general manager of Team Canada at the 2016 Deutschland Cup. Burke is Canada’s all-time goaltending leader in games played (35), minutes played (1,991), and wins (21) at the IIHF World Championship – an event at which he won two gold and two silver medals in five appearances as a player. A two-time Olympian (1988, 1992), Burke won silver at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, and is an IIHF World Junior Championship silver-medallist from 1986 in Hamilton, Ont.

Carrière joined the Montreal Canadiens as assistant general manager in 2010. Following a playing career which included full and partial seasons in the NHL in the 1970s with the Buffalo Sabres, Atlanta Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs, Carrière went into scouting with the Sabres in 1983, and was elevated to director of player development by the organization 10 years later, before being promoted once again to assistant general manager in 1995. In 2005 he took a role as pro scout for the Washington Capitals before joining Montreal.

Salmond has been with Hockey Canada since 2001, serving in his current position of vice-president of hockey operations and national teams since June 2014. In this position, Salmond oversees all operations of Canada’s national men’s teams for the Olympic Winter Games, IIHF World Championship, IIHF World Junior Championship, and IIHF U18 World Championship, as well as the sledge hockey program at the Paralympic Winter Games and IPC World Para Hockey Championship.

Canada opens the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Paris, France, and Cologne, Germany, against the Czech Republic on Friday, May 5, with preliminary-round games scheduled through Tuesday, May 16. The bronze- and gold-medal games will take place on Sunday, May 21.

TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, will carry 64 and 32 games respectively; schedules and network information can be found at TSN.ca and RDS.ca.

Team Canada was undefeated at the 2015 IIHF World Championship in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic, and defended its gold medal at the 2016 IIHF World Championship in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.

Since 1931, Canada was won the world championship 20 times – not counting the years when Olympic Winter Games gold medallist was also considered world champion. The country has also collected 11 silver medals and six bronze in that timespan.

For more information on Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Canada vs. Sweden

4 Nations Face-Off Preview: Canada vs. Sweden

Wednesday, February 12 | 8 p.m. ET | Montreal, Quebec | Preliminary Round

Jason LaRose
|
February 12, 2025

The day has come. After almost nine years, best-on-best competition returns as Canada opens up the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden in Montreal.

The day has finally come. Almost nine years after the last best-on-best tournament – the 2016 World Cup of Hockey – Canada opens up the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Last Meeting

The last time the Canadians and Swedes met in any senior men’s competition was the bronze medal game at the 2024 IIHF World Championship last spring in Prague. Dylan Cozens and Pierre-Luc Dubois gave Canada a 2-1 lead early in the third period, but three unanswered goals in the final 10:25 were enough for Sweden to earn a 4-2 win.

For the last time the long-time international rivals met in best-on-best competition (and we’re including Canada Cups, World Cups and Olympics with NHLers in that category), you have to go back to the gold medal game at the 2014 Games in Sochi. Jonathan Toews opened the scoring (just as he had in the 2010 gold medal game), Sidney Crosby closed the scoring (just as he had in the 2010 gold medal game) and Carey Price made 24 saves for the shutout as Canada claimed another Olympic gold with a 3-0 win.

What to Watch

Have you seen the Canadian roster? You think we can pick just one player? More than 13,000 NHL games. More than 10,000 points. Twenty Stanley Cup championships. Thirty-three individual NHL honours. But alright, let’s focus on one – how about arguably the greatest leader in Canadian hockey history with the ‘C’ on his chest? Crosby has tallied 67 points (32-35—67) in 54 international games, winning two Olympic gold medals, one each at Men’s Worlds and World Juniors, and a World Cup title. He is the only player in the IIHF Triple Gold Club to win all three legs as captain – Olympic gold, IIHF World Championship gold and the Stanley Cup. Remarkably, it has been almost 22 years since the pride of Cole Harbour first donned the Maple Leaf, as a 15-year-old at the 2003 U18 World Cup. Crosby is still a force to be reckoned with in his 20th NHL season; he has recorded 58 points (17-41—58) in 55 games, on pace to finish as a point-per-game player for the 20th time in as many seasons.

Sweden may not have the top-to-bottom star power of the Canadians, but there are certainly a few players who deserve a little extra attention. Let’s start with one familiar to Canadian hockey fans – William Nylander. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward sits second in the NHL with 33 goals this season and has been terrific wearing the Tre Kronor; Nylander’s last international appearance came at the 2019 IIHF World Championship when he led the tournament with 18 points (5-13—18) despite the Swedes going out in the quarterfinals. And since we mentioned Crosby, we’d be remiss not to mention the Swedish captain – Victor Hedman. The veteran defenceman has a trophy case that includes Men’s Worlds gold, two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Norris Trophy, along with more than 700 points in more than 1,000 NHL games. Only three Swedish blue-liners have recorded more points – two (Nicklas Lidstrom and Borje Salming) are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the third, Erik Karlsson, will join Hedman at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

A Look Back

If we look back strictly at best-on-best competition, dating back to the 1976 Canada Cup, the Canadians have a decided advantage, winning 10 of the 12 meetings.

The only other matchup in a gold medal game or tournament final came at the 1984 Canada Cup, when Canada swept the best-of-three final in Alberta. Michel Goulet had two goals and an assist to in a 5-2 win in Game 1 in Calgary before 12 players recorded points in the opening 17 minutes to help Canada to a 5-0 first-period lead in Game 2 in Edmonton, en route to a 6-5 victory.

All-time record: Canada leads 10-2-0 (1-0 in OT)
Canada goals: 45
Sweden goals: 27

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Drew Doughty at the 2014 Olympics.

Drew Doughty added to Team Canada for 4 Nations Face-Off

Two-time Olympic gold medallist, Stanley Cup champion replaces Alex Pietrangelo

NR.009.25
|
February 09, 2025

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), has announced that Drew Doughty (London, ON/Los Angeles, NHL) has been added to the Team Canada roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12-20 in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Doughty has spent his entire 17-year career with the Los Angeles Kings (2008-25), serving as an alternate captain for the last nine seasons (2016-25). He has won two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014) and the Norris Trophy (2016), and is the team’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman while ranking eighth in career scoring (156-513—669 in 1,179 games played) for the Kings. Internationally, he has won gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games (2010, 2014) and IIHF World Junior Championship (2008), as well a World Cup of Hockey championship (2016), and a silver medal at the 2009 IIHF World Championship.

Doughty replaces Alex Pietrangelo (King City, ON/Vegas, NHL), who is unable to participate in the tournament.

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship game on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston.

For more information on the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, please visit the official tournament page.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on FacebookX, Instagram and TikTok.

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Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Cale Makar.

Sidney Crosby to captain Team Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off

Connor McDavid, Cale Makar to serve as alternate captains

NR.007.25
|
January 30, 2025

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), has announced that Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, NS/Pittsburgh, NHL) will wear the ‘C’ for Team Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12-20 in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Connor McDavid (Newmarket, ON/Edmonton, NHL) and Cale Makar (Calgary, AB/Colorado, NHL) will join Crosby as alternate captains.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to again represent Canada on the international stage, and it is an honour to be named captain for the 4 Nations Face-Off on a team with so many great leaders,” Crosby said. “I look forward to serving as captain alongside Connor and Cale who are amazing leaders in their own right. All of us are excited to wear the Team Canada jersey and to kick off the 4 Nations Face-Off in front of Canadian fans.” 

“Sidney, Connor and Cale all possess exceptional leadership qualities, a determination to be the best and a burning desire to win,” said head coach Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC/Tampa Bay, NHL). “We are fortunate to have incredible leadership on our team. These players will lead Canada with pride as we set out to accomplish our goal of winning the 4 Nations Face-Off.”

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship game on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston.

For more information on the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, please visit the official tournament page.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on FacebookX, Instagram and TikTok.

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Canada’s National Men’s Team roster named for 2024 Spengler Cup

Roster includes three returnees from 2023

NR.101.24
|
December 20, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta – Twenty-six players will wear the Maple Leaf when Canada’s National Men’s Team looks to capture a record 17th championship at the 2024 Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.

The three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 14 forwards were selected by co-general managers Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, BC/Calgary, NHL) and Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, ON), alongside assistant general manager Hnat Domenichelli (Edmonton, AB/HC Lugano, NL).

“All of the players named today are extremely excited to represent their country and wear the Maple Leaf as they compete at the Spengler Cup,” said Pascall. “Our management group feels we have a good mix of experienced players with a wealth of skill and leadership. This is a unique and exciting tournament, and we know these players will embrace the challenge in front of them.”

The roster includes three players - Philip-Michaël Devos (Sorel-Tracy, QC/HC Ajoie, NL),Jonathan Hazen (Val-Bélair, QC/HC Ajoie, NL) and Josh Jooris (Burlington, ON/Genève-Servette HC, NL) – who will be representing Canada at the prestigious annual invitational tournament for the second year in a row. Jooris helped Canada win its most recent title in 2019.

In total, seven players have previous Spengler Cup experience with Team Canada (Carr, Curran, Devos, Gagner, Grégoire, Hazen, Jooris) and three represented Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship (Bowey, Gagner, Hudon).

Canada opens the 2024 Spengler Cup against host HC Davos on Dec. 26 at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT and will also face the DEL’s Straubing Tigers in preliminary-round play. The championship game is set for Dec. 31 at 6:10 a.m. ET/3:10 a.m. PT.

TSN, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partner, will broadcast all 11 tournament games; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Spengler Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca  or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

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Coaching staff named for 2024 Spengler Cup

Gerard Gallant named head coach; Dave Hakstol, Mike Kelly and Johan Lundskog named assistants

NR.092.24
|
December 13, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has named its coaching staff for Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2024 Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.

Gerard Gallant (Summerside, PE) takes the reins as head coach and will be tasked with leading Canada back to the championship game for the first time since 2019, alongside assistant coaches Dave Hakstol (Warburg, AB), Mike Kelly (Shamrock, PE) and Johan Lundskog (Visby, SWE/SC Rapperswil-Jona, NL).

The coaching staff was selected by the management group of co-general managers Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, BC/Calgary, NHL) and Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, ON) alongside assistant general manager Hnat Domenichelli (Edmonton, AB/HC Lugano, NL), who all return for a second-consecutive year. Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, also provided input.

“We are excited to be led by Gerard, Dave, Mike and Johan, who have amassed more than five decades of experience coaching both in the NHL and Europe, and we know that experience will benefit our team as we look to bring home a championship,” said Salmond. “Having Brad, Joe and Hnat in management brings valuable leadership and experience to our group. We know they will work together to put a competitive team on the ice at the Spengler Cup.”

Gallant returns behind the bench for the first time since winning a gold medal with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. As an assistant coach he won gold and silver at Men’s Worlds in 2007 and 2017. He also served as an assistant coach with Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Gallant has coached for more than 20 years in the NHL, including as head coach with Columbus (2004-06), Florida (2014-17), Vegas (2017-20) and the New York Rangers (2021-23), winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2017-18. He spent three seasons (2009-12) as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), winning back-to-back QMJHL championships (2011, 2012) and the Memorial Cup in 2011, in addition to consecutive nods as QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) coach of the year in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Hakstol will represent Canada for the third time as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team after winning silver medals at the IIHF World Championship in 2017 and 2019. He served as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015-18 and was named the first head coach in Seattle Kraken history in 2021, spending three seasons with the team. Prior to joining the Kraken, he also served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2019-21). Hakstol held various coaching roles with the University of North Dakota from 2000-15, including as head coach from 2004-15, earning WCHA Coach of the Year honours in 2008-09.

Kelly won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. He has represented Canada on multiple occasions, including coaching Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship. He was also an assistant coach at the IIHF World Junior Championship three times (2000, 2001, 2002). He served as an assistant coach to Gallant in both Vegas (2017-20) and Florida (2014-17). Kelly also spent four seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs, including two as head coach and general manager (2012-14) and two as associate coach alongside Gallant (2010-12). Prior to the QMJHL, he spent three seasons as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks (2006-08) and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose (2005-06).

Lundskog is making his international coaching debut with Canada’s National Men’s Team and is currently in his first season as an associate coach with SC Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland’s National League (NL). He served as an assistant coach of IK Oskarshamn in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan (2014-15), Evansville of the ECHL (2015-16), Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League (2016-19) and HC Davos in the NL (2019-21). He was head coach of SC Bern in the NL from 2021-22, as well as with Adler Mannheim in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) during the 2023-24 season.

Hockey Canada also named the support staff that will work with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the Spengler Cup:

                                 

  • Video coach Jérémy Coupal (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC)
  • Equipment manager Peter Bureaux (Kitchener, ON/Calgary, AHL)
  • Sport physiotherapist Doug Stacey (London, ON/Western University, OUA)
  • Massage therapist Andy Hüppi (Schmerikon, SUI)
  • Team physician Jim Thorne (Calgary, AB/Calgary, NHL)
  • Managers of hockey operations Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB) and Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, MB)
  • Coordinator of hockey operations Miah Armitage (Creston, BC)

 

Canada opens the 2024 Spengler Cup against host HC Davos on Dec. 26 at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT, and will also face the DEL’s Straubing Tigers in preliminary-round play. The championship game is set for Dec. 31 at 6:10 a.m. ET/3:10 a.m. PT.

TSN, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partner, will broadcast all 11 tournament games; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Spengler Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca  or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

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Management staff returns for 2024 Spengler Cup

Joe Thornton and Brad Pascall named co-general managers; Hnat Domenichelli named assistant GM

NR.091.24
|
December 12, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the return of its management group for a second-consecutive year with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2024 Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.

After making his international management debut last year, Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, ON) assumes the role of co-general manager alongside Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, BC/Calgary, NHL). Hnat Domenichelli (Edmonton, AB/HC Lugano, NL) also debuted in a management role with Team Canada in 2023 and returns as assistant general manager.

“Brad, Joe and Hnat brought tremendous leadership and experience to our group last year and we are thrilled to have them return and build upon last season,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. “Each bring their own knowledge having represented Canada on multiple occasions and in varying roles. They know what it takes to win in short-term competition and we know they will assemble a team that will proudly wear the Maple Leaf in its quest to win the Spengler Cup.”

Pascall is currently in his 11th season as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames, and his second as vice-president of hockey operations. Pascall is also general manager of the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL). Prior to joining the Flames, Pascall was the vice-president of hockey operations and national teams with Hockey Canada for nearly four years (2010-14), and worked for the organization from 1996-2014. During his tenure, he won five-straight gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship (2005-09), three Olympic gold medals (2002, 2010, 2014), two IIHF World Championship gold medals (2003, 2004), the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2012 Spengler Cup. 

Thornton enjoyed a 25-year professional playing career that included NHL stints with the Boston Bruins (1997-2005), San Jose Sharks (2005-20), Toronto Maple Leafs (2021) and Florida Panthers (2021-22), as well as parts of three seasons with HC Davos (2004-05, 2012-13, 2020-21) during NHL lockouts and the COVID-19 pandemic. In over 1,700 NHL games, he amassed 1,539 points (430-1109—1539), was a six-time all-star and won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2005-06. Internationally, Thornton suited up for Canada eight times, winning a gold medal at the 1996 Pacific Cup, gold at the 1997 IIHF World Junior Championship, silver at the 2005 IIHF World Championship and gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, as well as the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and 2016. He also played in two Spengler Cups (2004, 2012) with HC Davos, winning the championship in 2004. 

Domenichelli has served as general manager of HC Lugano of the National League (NL) since 2019. As a player, he had an 18-year professional career that included 922 games in the NHL, AHL and NL, while also representing Canada nine times. Domenichelli won a gold medal at the 1996 IIHF World Junior Championship, suited up at the Spengler Cup four times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008), winning the championship in 2003, and represented Switzerland at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. He also won back-to-back Memorial Cups (1994, 1995) with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), as well as the Calder Cup with the AHL’s Houston Aeros in 2003. 

Canada opens the 2024 Spengler Cup against host HC Davos on Dec. 26 at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT, and will also face the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in preliminary-round play. The championship game is set for Dec. 31 at 6:10 a.m. ET/3:10 a.m. PT.

TSN, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partner, will broadcast all 11 tournament games; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Spengler Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca  or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

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By the Numbers: Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off

A facts-and-figures look at the 23 Canadians who will wear the Maple Leaf in Montreal and Boston

Jason La Rose
|
December 05, 2024

The wait is over – Canada has announced its roster for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, the first best-on-best international tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

There’s still more than two months until the first puck drops at the Bell Centre in Montreal, but it’s never too early to take a deep dive into the Canadian roster – who they are, where they’ve come from and what they’ve done.

10,675: Combined points in 13,412 National Hockey League games (3838-6837—10675); Sidney Crosby (1,622) and Connor McDavid (1,013) are the only members of the 1,000-point club. They’ll likely be joined shortly by Brad Marchand (947) and Nathan MacKinnon (938).

5,831: Kilometres (according to Google Maps) from West Vancouver, B.C., hometown of Sam Reinhart, to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, hometown of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon – the westernmost and easternmost communities represented on the roster.

476: Combined points in 564 international games wearing the Maple Leaf (195-281—476); six players clock in as point-per-game performers with Team Canada – Sidney Crosby (32-35—67 in 54 GP), Nathan MacKinnon (18-25—43 in 42 GP), Cale Makar (3-5—8 in 7 GP), Mitch Marner (10-15—25 in 20 GP), Connor McDavid (18-27—55 in 41 GP) and Mark Stone (19-15—34 in 26 GP).

455: Population (according to the 2021 Census) of Elkhorn, Manitoba, hometown of Travis Sanheim and the smallest of any player.

73-196: Average height (in inches) and weight (in pounds); Colton Parayko (6-foot-6, 228 pounds) is the biggest player, while Brad Marchand (5-foot-9, 176 pounds) is the smallest.

32: Individual NHL awards won; the total is shared amongst four players – Connor McDavid has won 14 (Art Ross x5; Ted Lindsay x4; Hart x3; Rocket Richard; Conn Smythe), Sidney Crosby has won 12 (Ted Lindsay x3; Art Ross x2; Hart x2; Conn Smythe x2; Rocket Richard x2; Messier Leadership), Nathan MacKinnon has won four (Calder; Hart; Ted Lindsay; Lady Byng); and Cale Makar has won two (Norris; Conn Smythe).

29-9-14: Average age (in years, months and days) as of Feb. 12, 2025, the first day of the tournament; Sidney Crosby (37 years, six months, six days) is the oldest, while Seth Jarvis (23 years, 12 days) is the youngest.

20: Stanley Cup championships; 15 of the 23 players have hoisted hockey’s biggest prize at least once. Sidney Crosby has the most, with three. Anthony Cirelli, Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden Point are the only others with multiple titles.

13: Players drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft, three of them taken No. 1 (Crosby, MacKinnon, McDavid); the roster also includes players selected in the third (7), fourth (1) and sixth (2) rounds.

11: Gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship, along with two silver medals and one bronze; Brad Marchand is the only player with multiple gold medals, in 2007 and 2008.

9: Gold medals at the IIHF World Championship, along with 11 silver medals; Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Reinhart and Mark Stone have one of each in their trophy case.

6: Hockey Canada Members represented; the Ontario Hockey Federation leads the way with seven players, followed by Hockey Alberta (6), BC Hockey (3), Hockey Manitoba (3), Hockey Nova Scotia (3) and Hockey Quebec (1).

5: Players to wear the ‘C’ with Team Canada – Sidney Crosby (2014 Olympics, 2015 Men’s Worlds, 2016 World Cup); Travis Konecny (2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup); Connor McDavid (2018 Men’s Worlds); Brayden Point (2016 World Juniors); and Sam Reinhart (2012 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka, 2013 U18 Men’s Worlds).

4: Alumni of the TELUS Cup, Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship – Sidney Crosby (Dartmouth Subways, 2002); Alex Pietrangelo (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, 2006); Sam Reinhart (Vancouver NW Giants, 2011); and Mark Stone (Winnipeg Thrashers, 2008).

3: Olympic gold medals; Sidney Crosby has two, in 2010 and 2014, while Alex Pietrangelo was part of the Canadian contingent at Sochi 2014.

3: Alumni of the Junior A World Challenge – Cale Makar (2015 and 2016), Colton Parayko (2011) and Devon Toews (2012); Makar (in 2015) and Parayko won gold medals with Canada West.

2: Alumni of the Centennial Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship – Cale Makar (2016 and 2017) and Devon Toews (2013).

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Kyle Dubas and Julien BriseBois.

Management group additions announced for 4 Nations Face-Off

Julien BriseBois to serve as assistant general manager; Kyle Dubas named director of player personnel

NR.048.24
|
July 23, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that a pair of veteran National Hockey League (NHL) general managers have been added to its management group for the 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12-20 in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Julien BriseBois (Greenfield Park, QC/Tampa Bay, NHL) will make his international management debut as assistant general manager, while Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Pittsburgh, NHL), who served as associate GM at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, has been named director of player personnel alongside general manager Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB/Boston, NHL) and associate GM Jim Nill (Hanna, AB/Dallas, NHL).

In addition, BriseBois and Dubas have been named to Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team management group as assistant general manager and director of player personnel, respectively. They will work alongside GM Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON/St. Louis, NHL) and assistant general managers Sweeney and Nill, as well as player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK/Anaheim, NHL) and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer, and Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy, will also provide support as part of the executive committee preparing for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

“Julien and Kyle are accomplished NHL general managers, and I am excited to welcome them to our management group for both the 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympics, as I believe they will be strong assets to a well-rounded management team,” Armstrong said. “Both Julien and Kyle have enjoyed long and successful careers, and we believe their experience and knowledge of NHL players will be a great addition to our staff as we continue to evaluate Canadian players and build rosters for international competition.”

BriseBois has been the general manager and vice-president of hockey operations with the Tampa Bay Lightning for six seasons (2018-24), winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. Previously, he served as assistant general manager of Tampa Bay (2010-18) and general manager of the Syracuse Crunch and Norfolk Admirals (2010-19) of the American Hockey League (AHL), winning the Calder Cup in 2012. He also spent time with the Montréal Canadiens, serving as vice-president of hockey operations (2006-10), director of hockey operations (2003-06) and director of legal affairs (2001-03), and was also the general manager of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs (2007-10), winning the Calder Cup in 2007.

Dubas is entering his second season as general manager and president of hockey operations with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Previously, he spent nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, serving five seasons (2018-23) as general manager, becoming the second-youngest GM in NHL history. He also spent four seasons (2014-18) as assistant general manager and GM of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), leading the team to its first Calder Cup championship in 2018. Dubas started his front-office career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), serving four seasons (2003-07) as a scout and three seasons (2011-14) as general manager.

“Jim and I are thrilled to have Julien and Kyle join our management group for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and to work alongside them as we prepare for the Olympics,” Sweeney said. “Both are successful NHL general managers that bring a wealth of knowledge, many years of experience at the professional level and great leadership skills that will be beneficial to our coaches, support staff and players.”

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship game on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston.

The full roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off will be announced between Nov. 29-Dec. 2, while the assistant coaches and support staff will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on the 4 Nations Face-Off, please visit the official tournament page.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand, Brayden Point, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar surrounding the 4 Nations Face-Off logo with Canada written below.

First six players unveiled for 4 Nations Face-Off

Crosby, MacKinnon, Makar, Marchand, McDavid, Point named to Canada for international event

NR.041.24
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June 28, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), has announced the first six players who will wear the Maple Leaf at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Feb. 12-20, 2025, in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

The initial roster includes Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, NS/Pittsburgh, NHL), Nathan MacKinnon (Cole Harbour, NS/Colorado, NHL), Cale Makar (Calgary, AB/Colorado, NHL), Brad Marchand (Hammonds Plains, NS/Boston, NHL), Connor McDavid (Newmarket, ON/Edmonton, NHL) and Brayden Point (Calgary, AB/Tampa Bay, NHL), and was selected by general manager Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB/Boston, NHL) and associate general manager Jim Nill (Hanna, AB/Dallas, NHL). Head coach Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC/Tampa Bay, NHL) and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, also provided input.

The initial list includes three former first-overall picks in the NHL Draft (Crosby, MacKinnon, McDavid), while all six players have suited up for Canada’s National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship and five have played for Canada’s National Men’s Team at the IIHF World Championship (Crosby, MacKinnon, Marchand, McDavid, Point). The six players have won a combined eight Stanley Cups, as well as two gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games, six gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship, four gold and two silver at the IIHF World Championship, and gold and bronze at the IIHF U18 World Championship.

“We are excited to announce the first six players who will represent Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, as these are six world-class players and leaders on their NHL teams that we can build a strong and successful team around,” Sweeney said. “Sidney, Nathan, Cale, Brad, Connor and Brayden have been successful at various levels of their professional and international careers, and we look forward to all six being key contributors to our team as we look to win on the international stage next season.”

Crosby has played in 1,272 games over 19 seasons (2005-24) with the Pittsburgh Penguins, serving as captain for 17 seasons and amassing 1,596 career points (592 goals, 1,004 assists). He has also collected 201 points (71 goals, 130 assists) in 180 playoff games, helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017). Over the course of his career, Crosby has won the Ted Lindsay Award three times, the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy twice, as well as the Mark Messier Leadership Award. Internationally, he won back-to-back gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games, as well as gold and silver at the IIHF World Junior Championship. He also won gold at the IIHF World Championship, becoming a member of the IIHF’s Triple Gold Club – the first to win all three as captain - and won the World Cup of Hockey.

MacKinnon recently completed his 11th season (2013-24) with the Colorado Avalanche, where he has served as an alternate captain for the past eight years. He has played in 791 career games, registering 899 points (335 goals, 564 assists), and has contributed 114 points (48 goals, 66 assists) in 88 career playoff games. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022, and has won the Calder Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. MacKinnon has worn the Maple Leaf five times, winning a gold and silver medal at the IIHF World Championship, and gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. He also suited up at the IIHF World Junior Championship and played for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey.

Makar has suited up in 315 career games over five seasons (2019-24) with the Colorado Avalanche, registering 336 points (86 goals, 250 assists). He has also appeared in 72 career playoff games, collecting 80 points (21 goals, 59 assists), earning the Conn Smythe Trophy while helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2022. Makar has also won the Calder Trophy and Norris Trophy, as well as the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA men’s hockey. Internationally, he won a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship, and suited up for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge twice, winning one gold medal.

Marchand has spent 15 seasons (2009-24) with the Boston Bruins, serving his first season as captain in 2023-24 after five years as an alternate captain. He has amassed 929 career points (401 goals, 528 assists) in 1,029 games, as well as 138 points (56 goals, 82 assists) in 157 playoff games, and won the Stanley Cup in 2011. On the international stage, Marchand won back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship, a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship and the World Cup of Hockey.

McDavid recently completed his ninth season (2015-24) with the Edmonton Oilers, leading the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in his eighth season as captain. In 645 career games, he has registered 982 points (335 goals, 647 assists), and has added 117 points (37 goals, 80 assists) in 74 playoff games. McDavid has registered 100 or more points in seven different seasons, helping him win the Art Ross Trophy five times, the Ted Lindsay Award four times, the Hart Trophy three times and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy once. He has suited up for Canada five times, winning gold at the IIHF U18 World Championship, IIHF World Junior Championship and IIHF World Championship. McDavid also played for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey.

Point has played for the Tampa Bay Lightning for his entire eight-year NHL career (2016-24), collecting 553 points (264 goals, 289 assists) in 580 career games, as well as 87 points (42 goals, 45 assists) in 87 playoff games. He scored 14 goals in the playoffs in two-consecutive seasons to help the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups (2020, 2021). Internationally, Point has won silver at the IIHF World Championship, gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship, gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and bronze at the IIHF U18 World Championship.

The full roster will be announced between Nov. 29-Dec. 2, while the coaching and support staffs will be announced in the coming months. 

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston. 

For more information on the 4 Nations Face-Off, please visit the official tournament page.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on FacebookX and Instagram.

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Jon Cooper.
© Tampa Bay Lightning/Mark Lomoglio

Jon Cooper named head coach for 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympic Winter Games

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach returns to Team Canada for first time since 2017

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June 25, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that veteran National Hockey League (NHL) head coach Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC/Tampa Bay, NHL) will lead Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss and longest-tenured active head coach in the NHL will make his return to the Team Canada bench for the first time since 2017, when he led Canada’s National Men’s Team to a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.

Cooper was selected by Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON/St. Louis, NHL), management group lead for Canada’s National Men’s Team and general manager for the 2026 Olympics, as well as Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB/Boston, NHL) and Jim Nill (Hanna, AB/Dallas, NHL), who make up the management group for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympics. Player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK/Anaheim, NHL) and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, along with Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer, and Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy, also provided input as part of the executive committee preparing for the 2026 Olympics.

 “Jon is a world-class person, coach and leader, and his impressive resume and success in the NHL make him the perfect person to lead Team Canada over the next two years at the 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympic Winter Games,” Armstrong said. “Our management group knows that Jon will represent our country with pride while bringing his winning pedigree to the international stage, and we look forward to working with him as we build teams with the best NHL players in Canada at two marquee events.”

Cooper recently completed his 12th season as head coach of the Lightning, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in regular season games coached (879), regular season wins (480), playoff games coached (139) and playoff wins (84). During his time with the Lightning, he has led the team to 10 playoff appearances, one Presidents’ Trophy (2018-19) and four Stanley Cup Finals (2015, 2020, 2021, 2022), winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. Prior to joining Tampa Bay, he spent two seasons (2010-12) with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL), winning the Calder Cup and AHL Coach of the Year Award in 2011-12, and part of one season with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Internationally, in addition to his silver medal in 2017, he served as an assistant coach with Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He was also announced as head coach of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team for the 2022 Olympics if NHL players participated.

The first six players for the 4 Nations Face-Off are expected to be announced in late June, while additional announcements regarding Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team will be made at a later date.

The 4 Nations Face-Off is a new international event that will feature NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States. The seven-game event will take place Feb. 12-20 at the Bell Centre in Montréal, Québec, home of the Montréal Canadiens, and TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, home of the Boston Bruins.

For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada’s National Men’s Team and Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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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]

Photos
Videos
2024-25 NWT: CAN 3 – USA 1 (Game 5)
Gardiner scored the GWG with 6:44 left, giving Canada the series win.
2024-25 NWT: USA 2 – CAN 1 SO (Game 4)
Turnbull tied it late, but Canada fell to the U.S. in a shootout.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 3 – USA 0 (Gold Medal)
Grenier made 14 saves to backstop Canada to its eighth U18 gold medal.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 4 – CZE 2 (Semifinal)
Zablocki and Tiller had 1G 1A apiece to send Canada to play for gold.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 17 – JPN 0 (Quarterfinal)
Zablocki and Cimoroni had 3G 2A each to help Canada into the semis.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 6 – SVK 2 (Preliminary)
Canada pulled away in the third period to earn an opening-game win.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 5 – CZE 0 (Preliminary)
Grenier made 20 saves to backstop Canada to a perfect prelims.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 5 – SUI 1 (Preliminary)
Copetti scored twice to help Canada to a victory over the Swiss.
2025 WJC: CZE 4 – CAN 3 (Quarterfinal)
Nadeau tied it with 4:18 left, but Canada was eliminated by the Czechs.
2025 WJC: USA 4 – CAN 1 (Preliminary)
Nadeau scored on a third-period PP, but Canada fell to the Americans.
2024 Spengler Cup: STR 4 – CAN 2 (Semifinal)
Carr scored 2G, but Canada fell to the Tigers in the Spengler semis.
2025 WJC: CAN 3 – GER 0 (Preliminary)
George made 25 saves for the SO to help Canada blank the Germans.
Schedule
HC Logo
Lloydminster, AB, Canada
Date: Apr 20 to 26
HC Logo
The Fraser Valley, BC, Canada
Date: Apr 21 to 27
HC Logo
Calgary , ON, Canada
Date: May 8 to 18
HC Logo
Stockholm, SWE & Herning, DEN
Date: May 9 to 25