Offered the chance to guide Canada’s National Junior Team into the 1997 IIHF World Junior Championship, Mike Babcock fairly jumped.

But, fully aware of expectations, he had his eyes open, too.

"Every guy before me had the same situation – you have to win," Babcock told reporters in December 1996. "The way I see it, this is our opportunity to shine. We'll do whatever it takes to get the job done."

And they did. In his first crack at coaching at an international tournament, he succeeded in Switzerland, leading his kids to gold – remarkably, the fifth straight for Canadian junior entries.

"Obviously when you get selected … and they've won four in a row, you're under the gun to win," Babcock said recently. "That's a big deal.

"And you're starting your career."

Because after following in the golden footsteps of Perry Pearn (1993), Jos Canale (1994), Don Hay (1995) and Marcel Comeau (1996), Babcock began to break ground on the international scene.

In 2004, he ushered the national outfit to gold at the IIHF World Championship, making him the first Canadian skipper to capture the top prize at the World Juniors and worlds.

After steering the Detroit Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup and the Canadians to 2010 Olympic supremacy, Babcock became the lone coach in the IIHF Triple Gold Club, a standard that also includes the world championship.

To this unprecedented collection of glittering hardware, he added gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and bragging rights from the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

It stands as one amazing run for the country – and for Babcock, who, like Ryan Smyth and Danielle Goyette, is a freshly-minted honouree of the Order of Hockey in Canada.

All of which begs the question: what's the key to his success?

"I don't know," replies the 55-year-old. "I mean, I just do what I do."

What Babcock does, plain and simple, is win – a pattern he established at the very beginning.

Taking charge of the Red Deer Kings in 1988, Babcock, then 25, shepherded them to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference title.

Bill Peters was a player on that squad. Going on to work with Babcock in Detroit and as part of his World Cup staff, he knows what makes the man tick. He knows his personality is a fit for high-stakes hockey.

Centre stage, for Babcock, is a draw – not a drawback.

"He's comfortable with it," says Peters, head coach of the Calgary Flames, and of Team Canada at a pair of IIHF World Championships. "He understands the expectations and he relishes that opportunity. He doesn't want to be a shrinking violet in the corner and pretend it's not a pressure-packed situation or it's not intense. It is intense."

Babcock, in his single season at the University of Lethbridge, 1993-94, marshalled the Pronghorns to national glory, earning Canada West Coach of the Year honours along the way. Then, joining the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, he continued to sparkle. After his second season, which included 50 wins, he was named top coach in the Western Conference.

Suddenly, there he was – on the Hockey Canada radar.

Getting to that point, according to Babcock, is more than half the battle. Because Team Canada's big brains aren't pulling names out of a helmet. They're not picking coaches on a hunch.

Invitations must be earned.

"If you don't have success in junior or success in college, you never get selected," says the Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss. "When people in charge of Hockey Canada select you, that's a huge honour. But then there's a responsibility – you've got to get it done.

"Some of these other countries, if you don't win, it's not a big deal. In Canada, it's a big deal."

Imagine being entrusted with the country's finest players, being given the authority to guide them on international ice, being singled out for the highest-profile assignments.

Prestige alone must be the selling feature. Like, why else do it? It's not the complimentary track suits.

"It is a chance to get better," explains Babcock. "I coached in two Olympics and you're around the best players and the best coaches in the world, and you have a real opportunity to get better.

"You're telling your players to get better all the time, why wouldn't you try to get better? That's probably the main thing."

But what sets Babcock apart? What gives him the Midas touch at international affairs?

"Gold-medal performance needs gold-medal preparation – and he's able to do that," says Peters. "It's preparation, knowing where you're going to have your challenges and making sure you're well aware of that before it ever happens."

In these ventures, Babcock points out that he's never alone. He's always got heavy-lifting managers – Steve Yzerman (twice) at the Olympics, Doug Armstrong at the World Cup, Jim Nill at the world championship.

"It's your ability to work with those people," he says, "then select the right people, players and staff. Once you get that done, you have a chance to maximize a group of players."

In Canada, of course, there is no shortage of top-end performers – all-stars at every level, all-stars at every position.

Teams are set up for success, right?

"What's interesting to me, I hear all the time, 'Well, they're just going to win,'" says Babcock. "Well, how come they don't always win? Because other countries are good. Other players are good. You have to find a way to do it (better)."

So he makes shrewd use of his line-up, meaning stars may get downgraded to light duty. But Babcock never worries about bruising egos – he's too busy. Coaches, in a blink, need to implement a system, determine and assign roles, suss out chemistry, forge reliable lines and pairings.

"In managing the group, setting out the expectations for the group," says Peters, "he's one of the best."

From his golden grab-bag, Babcock is asked to do the impossible – select a single achievement.

"Winning in our country was a spectacular thing," he says of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. "And the best team I ever coached, bar none, was the one in Sochi (at the 2014 Olympics). We were dominant. We had a great team, great leadership, good people."

He pauses. "Then we won the World Cup and that was great, too."

Pause again.

"They're all good. I like winning."

LONDON, Ont. – Their successes with Team Canada have been well-documented, but it is their contributions to Canada’s game that will be honoured on June 18 at the Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf in London.

Mike Babcock (Saskatoon, Sask.), Danielle Goyette (St-Nazaire, Que.) and Ryan Smyth (Banff, Alta.) are the 2018 Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada – a Hockey Canada initiative that began in 2012 to celebrate individuals for their outstanding contributions or service to the growth and development of the sport of hockey in Canada.

Mike Babcock – His NHL accomplishments are well-documented, and include winning the Stanley Cup in 2008, and the Presidents’ Trophy in 2005-06 and 2007-08 with the Detroit Red Wings. A three-time finalist for the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year, Babcock has been the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs since 2015. Throughout his coaching career, which has spanned collegiate sports as well as the CHL, AHL and NHL, Babcock has always answered the call when presented with an opportunity to be part of Team Canada. He’s the only coach in the IIHF Triple Gold Club – having won Olympic and IIHF World Championship gold as well as a Stanley Cup – to which he can add IIHF World Junior Championship gold and a win at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Danielle Goyette – Currently the head coach of the University of Calgary women’s hockey team, Goyette’s career is filled with highlight-reel moments, including eight IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medals, and three gold-medal-winning goals at worlds. Goyette is a four-time Olympian – three times as a player, once as an assistant coach – having won three gold medals and one silver, and she was selected to carry the flag into the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy. Goyette recorded 219 points in 172 games with Canada’s National Women’s Team over her 15-year international career. She was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2013, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.

Ryan Smyth – He earned the nickname Captain Canada, having captained the red-and-white at six IIHF World Championships, winning two gold medals and one silver over that span. He is an Olympic and IIHF World Junior Championship gold-medallist, and a Spengler Cup and World Cup of Hockey champion. Smyth is the all-time leader for games played by a Canadian at the IIHF World Championship. And when he wasn’t wearing the Team Canada jersey, Smyth also managed to log 842 points in 1,270 NHL games over 19 seasons with Edmonton, the New York Islanders, Colorado and Los Angeles.

“As players and coaches, this group has led the way on and off the ice, teaching and inspiring Canadian players at all levels of the game,” said Tom Renney, chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “To be selected as a Distinguished Honouree of the Order of Hockey in Canada is one of the most prestigious accomplishments one can receive in hockey in Canada, and this year’s honourees are well-deserving of the recognition. On behalf of my colleagues at Hockey Canada, the Order of Hockey in Canada selection committee, as well as our board members, I would like to congratulate Danielle, Mike and Ryan, and we look forward to celebrating them in London on June 18.”

Since its inception in 2012, the Order of Hockey in Canada has recognized 21 honourees, including: Jean Béliveau (2012); Scotty Bowman (2017); David Branch (2016); Cassie Campbell-Pascall (2012); Murray Costello (2017) Clare Drake (2014); Jim Gregory (2015); Wayne Gretzky (2012); Geraldine Heaney (2016); Paul Henderson (2013); Gordie Howe (2012); Dave King (2013); Mario Lemieux (2016); Mark Messier (2013); Bob Nicholson (2016); Pat Quinn (2015); Gordon Renwick (2012); Fran Rider (2017); France St-Louis (2014); Serge Savard (2015); and Steve Yzerman (2014).

A selection committee of 12 members – appointed by the Order of Hockey in Canada executive committee, established by Hockey Canada – is tasked with nominating and selecting, via secret ballot, the annual recipients of the Order of Hockey in Canada. The committee members represent a cross-section of individuals with great and varied experience around the game of hockey in Canada, including members of the media and hockey administration.

Legacy plan unveiled for 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf

The 15th annual Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf will be hosted in London, Ont., June 18 and 19, 2018, where the 2018 Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada, along with world championship and Olympic-winning teams, will be celebrated – including the gold-medallist from the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, Canada’s National Junior Team.

Steering committee chair Jeff Macoun announced on Tuesday that the legacy plan for this year’s event will support the establishment of an endowment fund that will focus on assisting families demonstrating financial need whose children’s passion for the game has been fueled by programs such as the Canadian Tire First Shift and Try Hockey, to pursue the game within their local minor hockey system.

“This area of the province has many great programs aimed at introducing new-to-hockey kids and families to the game, and we want to make sure that once that passion for the game is ignited in those children, we are able to assist those families in helping fuel their child’s love of the game through continued participation within our minor hockey system,” said Macoun. “This isn’t about developing the next NHL or Team Canada star, it’s about making sure that all Canadian kids have the opportunity to learn from the game. Hockey teaches us about more than on-ice skills; the life-lessons we take away from the game help us at home, within our community, and right into the boardrooms and offices of Corporate Canada. This is about giving kids a leg up in life through participation in our great game.”

The Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf, which leaves 50 per cent of its net proceeds within the host community and surrounding region as a legacy, has raised approximately $4 million alone since 2009 – including more than $650,000 at the 2017 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf in Saskatoon last June.

Visit the Hockey Canada website for more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation and the Order of Hockey in Canada.

HALIFAX, N.S. – The Order of Hockey in Canada welcomes two players and two executives to its ranks of distinguished honourees who have made outstanding contributions or service to the growth and development of the sport of hockey in Canada.

The Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada were announced in Halifax, host-city of the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic gala and golf tournament, where David Branch, Geraldine Heaney, Mario Lemieux, and Bob Nicholson will be formally celebrated.

David Branch – As president of the Canadian Hockey League since 1996 and commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) since 1979, Branch oversees the world’s largest development league encompassing the OHL, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League. He has been instrumental in leading a number of player-safety campaigns on topics that include anti-violence and mental health.

Geraldine Heaney – A two-time Olympic medallist and seven-time world champion in women’s hockey, Heaney has been inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame (2008), Hockey Hall of Fame (2013), and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (2014). Heaney helped put women’s hockey on the map with her gold medal-winning goal at the inaugural IIHF World Women’s Championship in 1990, and her impact on the next crop of female hockey talent continues through her coaching activity in her hometown.

Mario Lemieux – Co-owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Lemieux’s NHL and international successes have left their mark on hockey in Canada and around the world. As a member of Team Canada, Lemieux recorded 49 points in 36 games, and he served as captain for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey-winning team and the golden 2002 Olympic Winter Games team. Other international successes include winning the 1987 Canada Cup, a silver medal at the 1985 IIHF World Championship, and a bronze at the 1983 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Bob Nicholson – CEO and vice-chair of the Oilers Entertainment Group, Nicholson served as president and CEO of Hockey Canada from 1998-2014, overseeing the nation’s gold-medal performances at seven Olympic Winter Games, 12 IIHF World Junior Championships, five IIHF World Championships, 10 IIHF World Women’s Championships, four IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships, three IIHF World U18 Championships, two IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships, and one Paralympic Winter Games. In addition to the high-performance wins, Nicholson continues to dedicate himself to the growth and development of the sport through his work as chairman of the IIHF Development & Coaching Committee.

“Between David, Geraldine, Mario, and Bob, they have impacted millions of people in Canada and around the world through their work within the sport of hockey,” said Tom Renney, president and chief executive officer, Hockey Canada. “I congratulate them all, on behalf of my colleagues at Hockey Canada and the Order of Hockey in Canada selection committee, as well as our board of directors, volunteers, and the 750,000 registered members from coast-to-coast-to-coast, on this well-deserved recognition.”

The addition of this year’s class brings the total number of honourees to 18 since the Order of Hockey in Canada’s inception in 2012, including: Jean Béliveau (2012); Cassie Campbell-Pascall (2012); Clare Drake (2014); Jim Gregory (2015); Wayne Gretzky (2012); Paul Henderson (2013); Gordie Howe (2012); Dave King (2013); Mark Messier (2013); Pat Quinn (2015); Gordon Renwick (2012); France St-Louis (2014); Serge Savard (2015); and Steve Yzerman (2014).

A selection committee of 12 members - appointed by the Order of Hockey in Canada executive committee, established by Hockey Canada – is tasked with nominating and selecting, via secret ballot, the annual recipients of the Order of Hockey in Canada. The committee members represent a cross-section of individuals with great and varied experience around the game of hockey in Canada.

This year’s honourees will be celebrated as part of the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, June 20 and 21 in Halifax.

Nova Scotia legacy plans unveiled

Halifax is the first city without an NHL team to host the prestigious event. Half of the proceeds from the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic will support a provincial legacy plan as selected by the local steering committee for the event.

Daniel Gallivan, Q.C., chair of the steering committee, announced Tuesday that Hockey Nova Scotia, the Sidney Crosby Foundation, and the Long Pond Hockey Arena Building Society will share the proceeds that will remain locally, to be used for programs and projects that support the growth and development of the sport in the province.

“We have seen tremendous support from the community to-date, and I believe that is in large part because of the knowledge that the Celebrity Classic benefits our region directly, and in a very meaningful way,” said Gallivan. "Our committee considered several options. We ultimately agreed to support these three because we believe that, together, they will have a lasting and positive effect on hockey and those who play the game in Nova Scotia."

The remaining proceeds from the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic will go to the Foundation to support the future development and delivery of Hockey Canada programs, projects, and activities across the country.

Visit the Hockey Canada website for more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation, the 2016 Celebrity Classic, and the Order of Hockey in Canada.

TORONTO, Ont. – Hockey Canada announced Tuesday the three individuals that have been named to the 2015 class of Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada. The recipients will be honoured June 10 at the 2015 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic in Toronto.

Hockey Canada introduced the Order of Hockey in Canada in April 2012; the program annually honours a select number of individuals whose “role or service in the game is recognized as extraordinary” in Canada.

The selection committee met Dec. 22 and went through an election process that identified three new honourees (listed alphabetically):

Jim Gregory is a long-time executive with the National Hockey League, currently serving as senior vice-president of hockey operations. He has been with the league office since 1986, when he was hired as executive director of hockey operations. The native of Port Colborne, Ont., got his start in hockey thanks to Hockey Hall of Fame member Father David Bauer, who hired Gregory as a stats keeper and trainer with St. Michael’s College. He eventually led the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors to a Memorial Cup championship as general manager in 1961, and won two more as head coach and general manager of the Toronto Marlboros in 1964 and 1967. After coaching the WHL’s Vancouver Canucks for one season, Gregory was hired as a scout by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968 before taking over as general manager the following season, and leading the Maple Leafs to eight playoff appearances in 10 seasons. He served as director of NHL Central Scouting from 1979-86 before joining the NHL office. Gregory spent 17 years as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.

Pat Quinn stood behind a Team Canada bench on seven occasions, and worked as a general manager or assistant general manager on four others, helping Canada to five medals and a World Cup championship. He was Canada’s head coach at two Olympic Winter Games (2002, 2006), guiding Canada to its first Olympic gold in 50 years in 2002, as well as the 1986 IIHF World Championship, 2004 World Cup of Hockey, 2006 Spengler Cup, 2008 IIHF World U18 Championship and 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning gold in his final two appearances. The Hamilton, Ont., native spent 20 seasons as an NHL head coach with Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton, twice winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year (1979-80, 1991-92) and guiding the Flyers to an NHL-record 35-game unbeaten streak in 1979-80. He sits fifth all-time in NHL history with 684 wins (in 1,400 games) and twice led his teams to the Stanley Cup Final – in 1980 with Philadelphia and 1994 with Vancouver. As a player, Quinn played 606 NHL games with Toronto, Vancouver and Atlanta from 1968-77, recording 131 points (18 goals, 113 assists) and serving as captain in Atlanta from 1975-77. Quinn passed away at the age of 71 on Nov. 23.

Serge Savard was one of the “Big Three” with the Montreal Canadiens, along with Guy Lapointe and Larry Robinson, winning eight Stanley Cup championships in his 14 years with the team (1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979), and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1969. The native of Landrienne, Que., played twice for Canada, seeing action in five games during the 1972 Summit Series (Canada went 4-0-1 with Savard in the line-up) and winning the 1976 Canada Cup. The captain of the Canadiens from 1979-81, Savard recorded 439 points (106 goals, 333 assists) in 1,040 NHL games, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986. After his playing career was over, Savard returned to the Canadiens as general manager from 1983-95, winning two more Stanley Cups (1986, 1993) in his 13-year tenure. The winner of the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 1978-79, Savard was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994, and had his No. 18 retired by the Canadiens in 2006.

This year’s class of three individuals brings the total number of honourees to 14.

ORDER OF HOCKEY IN CANADA DISTINGUISHED HONOUREES
Jean Béliveau – 2012
Cassie Campbell-Pascall – 2012
Clare Drake – 2014
Jim Gregory – 2015 
Wayne Gretzky – 2012
Paul Henderson – 2013
Gordie Howe – 2012
Dave King – 2013
Mark Messier – 2013
Pat Quinn – 2015
Gordon Renwick – 2012
France St-Louis – 2014
Serge Savard – 2015
Steve Yzerman – 2014

ORDER OF HOCKEY IN CANADA CRITERIA
Candidates for election as Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada shall be chosen “on the basis of their outstanding contributions or service to the growth and development of the sport of hockey in Canada, which may include players, coaches, officials, administrators, executives, trainers, physicians, inventors or any other person whose role or service in the game is recognized as extraordinary.”

Candidates are eligible as long as they have concluded their career as an active player or official, if either is applicable, for a minimum of five playing seasons before their election. All other candidates may be either active or inactive at the time of his or her selection. However, there will be no posthumous appointments to the Order of Hockey in Canada.

Please note, Pat Quinn’s nomination was submitted to the selection committee prior to his passing on Nov. 23, 2014, allowing him to be considered, and ultimately selected, for this honour.

ORDER OF HOCKEY IN CANADA SELECTION PROCESS
A selection committee of 12 members was appointed by the Order of Hockey in Canada executive committee, which was established by Hockey Canada. The selection committee members, representing a cross-section of individuals with great and varied experience around the game of hockey in Canada, have been selected for a three-year term and can serve for a maximum of nine years. Each committee member can only bring forward one name as an official nomination for consideration annually. After inducting five individuals in the first group in the spring of 2012, there will be a maximum of three recipients annually going forward.

The entire selection process is confidential, and the names of those candidates not selected will not be disclosed.

OHC executive committee: Murray Costello, Jeff Denomme, Joe Drago, Tom Renney and Jim Treliving.

OHC selection committee: David Andrews (chairman), Marc Bergevin, Gilles Courteau, Joe Drago, Dave King, Pierre LeBrun, Roy MacGregor, Bob McKenzie, Glen Sather, Danièle Sauvageau, Scott Smith and Donna Spencer

NOTE TO MEDIA: To request interviews with the three newest Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada, please contact Francis Dupont, Hockey Canada’s manager of communications, at [email protected].

For more information on Hockey Canada, its teams, events and programs, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, and follow Hockey Canada through social media at www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.facebook.com/hockeycanada.

Former Hockey Canada president Murray Costello has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, in recognition of his contributions to the development of hockey across the country, particularly to Canada's National Junior Team and Canada's National Women's Team.

The prestigious appointment was announced Sat., June 29 by Gov. Gen. David Johnston.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of the country's honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. The Order of Canada’s motto is DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country).

The Officer of the Order of Canada award recognizes a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large.

A former professional hockey player with the NHL's Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, Costello went back to school and became a lawyer following his on-ice career. He served as president of the Canadian Hockey Association from 1979 through 1998, and was a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Board of Directors in Toronto for 17 years. He was himself inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006. The South Porcupine, Ont., native went on to serve in a variety of roles with the IIHF, including auditor for eight years, as well as member of the disciplinary committee for another eight years, member of the statutes committee for four years, and chairman of both the medical and junior committees.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has introduced the Order of Hockey in Canada, a program that will annually honour a select number of individuals whose ‘role or service in the game is recognized as extraordinary’ in Canada. The individuals will be identified as Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada and be celebrated at an annual gala event.

“Canada’s passion for hockey is well known around the world,” said Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson. “The Order of Hockey in Canada is being established to recognize those individuals that have played prominent roles in developing and growing the game in our country. At this time, I would also like to thank the members of the executive and selection committee who have committed themselves to this project.”

The names of the first recipients of the Order of Hockey in Canada will be announced in April and honoured at the Hockey Canada Foundation Gala on June 25 in Toronto, Ont.

ORDER OF HOCKEY IN CANADA CRITERIA
Candidates for election as Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada shall be chosen ‘on the basis of their outstanding contributions or service to the growth and development of the sport of hockey in Canada, which may include players, coaches, officials, administrators, executives, trainers, physicians, inventors or any other person whose role or service in the game is recognized as extraordinary.’

Candidates are eligible as long as they have concluded their career as an active player or official, if either is applicable, for a minimum of five playing seasons before their election. All other candidates may be either active or inactive at the time of his or her selection. However, there will be no posthumous appointments to the Order of Hockey in Canada.

ORDER OF HOCKEY IN CANADA SELECTION PROCESS
A selection committee of 12 members has been appointed by the Order of Hockey in Canada executive committee, which was established by Hockey Canada. The selection committee members, representing a cross-section of individuals with great and varied experience around the game of hockey in Canada, have been selected for a three-year term and can serve for a maximum of nine years. Each committee member can only bring forward one name as an official nomination for consideration annually.For 2012, the executive committee has directed the selection committee to elect a maximum of five recipients by an affirmative vote of at least 75 per cent. Going forward, the maximum will be three recipients annually.

The entire selection process shall be confidential, and the names of those candidates not selected will not be disclosed.

• Order of Hockey in Canada executive committee:

• • Bob Nicholson, president and CEO, Hockey Canada
• • Michael J. Bruni, QC , chairman, Hockey Canada Board of Directors
• • Grant Fagerheim, chairman, Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors
• • Murray Costello, past president, Hockey Canada
• • Jeff Denomme, president, CEO and treasurer, Hockey Hall of Fame

• Order of Hockey in Canada selection committee

• • Chairman: Jim Treliving, owner, Boston Pizza International and board member, Hockey Canada Foundation
• • Dave Andrews, president and CEO, American Hockey League and board member, Hockey Canada Foundation
• • Gilles Courteau, commissioner, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
• • Joe Drago, Hockey Canada officer and past president, Ontario Hockey Federation
• • Pierre Lebrun, journalist, TSN/Bell Media Radio/ESPN.com
• • Roy MacGregor, columnist, The Globe and Mail
• • Bob McKenzie, journalist, TSN
• • Pat Quinn, former Team Canada/NHL head coach
• • Glen Sather, general manager, New York Rangers
• • Danièle Sauvageau, former head coach, Canada’s National Women’s Team
• • Scott Smith, chief operating officer, Hockey Canada
• • Donna Spencer, journalist, The Canadian Press

For more information on Hockey Canada, its teams, events and programs, please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca.

Follow Hockey Canada on its social media platforms at www.Twitter.com/HockeyCanada, www.Facebook.com/HockeyCanada and www.YouTube.com/HockeyCanadaVideos.

CALGARY, Alta. – The Hockey Canada Foundation (HCF) has welcomed three new members to its board of directors, with the appointments of Steven Albiani (Toronto, Ont.), Angela James (Toronto, Ont.) and Brad Morris (Unionville, Ont.).

“We are excited to have Steven, Angela and Brad join the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors, as each of them bring unique perspectives and experiences in hockey,” said Doug Goss, chair of the HCF Board of Directors. “Their expertise will be important to furthering our efforts in communities across the country, and we look forward to working with them to enhance our programs that help eliminate barriers in the game.”

Albiani is the managing partner of Stratum Advisory Group Inc., a boutique tax and insurance planning firm. A certified financial planner who holds a certificate as a family business advisor from the Family Firm Institute, Albiani is a volunteer member of the SickKids Foundation Professional Advisory Board, and sits on the boards of a number of private companies. He has also been a guest instructor at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University, his alma mater.

Widely considered as the first superstar in women’s hockey, James led Canada’s National Women’s Team to win a gold medal at four IIHF World Women’s Championships, scoring a record 11 goals at the inaugural edition in 1990. She was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010, appointed to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021 and was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2022. James is the co-owner and general manager of the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation.

Morris is currently a global executive with Grote Industries LLC, a leading worldwide innovator of transportation safety systems. From 2012 to 2017, Morris was the chair of the board of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) and received the 2018 CWHL Humanitarian of the Year Award. Morris has also served on many other not-for-profit boards, most recently as chair of the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, and has been a long-time advocate for growing women’s and girls’ hockey.

To unite all Canadians and achieve its mission, the Hockey Canada Foundation is committed to three strategic priorities: enable, educate and engage. Each year, HCF programs remove barriers to the game, provide resources and tools to better equip kids, parents and coaches, and promote nation-building, citizenship, mentorship and community involvement.

HCF programs include the Assist Fund, which provided registration subsidies to a record 2,349 children in 2022-23, Dreams Come True, a financial assistance program designed to introduce participants to hockey by providing head-to-toe equipment and assisting with registration fees, and Hockey Is Hers, which focuses on impacting girls and women in the game. 

The HCF Board of Directors also includes Goss, Ashif Mawji (vice-chair), Peter Brauti (secretary), Allan Matthews (treasurer), David Andrews (past chair) and directors Susan Anderson, Sean Finn and Barry F. Lorenzetti. In addition, the Hockey Canada Foundation U.S. board includes Bill Ackerman (chair), Mike Humes (vice-chair), Adam Graves (secretary) and Paul Delparte (treasurer).

CALGARY, Alta. – The Hockey Canada Foundation has announced that 2,349 children across the country will receive subsidies towards registration fees for the 2022-23 season through its Assist Fund, which is the most in the program’s three-year history.

Each of Hockey Canada’s 13 Members have players receiving assists this season, with 39% of the recipients identifying as BIPOC.

“Throughout the application process, we heard so many incredible stories from families who are looking forward to watching their child play hockey for the first time, and from others who needed an assist to return to the rink,” said Donna Iampieri, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of Canadians and our partners, more children from coast to coast to coast will be impacted through this initiative this season than ever before.”

Since 2020, the Assist Fund has provided financial support to more than 5,000 kids, including over 1,750 from the BIPOC community. The Assist Fund was launched ahead of the 2020-21 season in response to the many families experiencing financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has continued to provide subsidies to help more young Canadians enjoy the game they love.

Canadians can give an assist of their own this holiday season, with 100% of donations going towards subsidized hockey registration fees for additional Canadian kids. More information can be found at HockeyCanadaFoundation.ca.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.