CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, along with the host organizing committee for the 2012 World Junior Championship, announced Tuesday that former Calgary Flames general manager Al Coates has been named executive director of the event, scheduled for to in Calgary and Edmonton.

In addition, the venue managers for both Calgary and Edmonton have been named. Chris Reynolds will work with all major partners in the delivery of the Calgary portion of the tournament, while Tim Garbutt will hold the same position in Edmonton.

Al Coates brings nearly four decades of NHL front-office experience to his position, including as general manager of the Flames from 19. He has also worked with the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs, winning Stanley Cup championships with Calgary in 1989, as assistant to the president, and with Anaheim in 2007, as senior advisor to the general manager.

Chris Reynolds served as a sport director for the 2006 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia, overseeing sport administration for the event, and as director of European hockey operations for Anschutz Entertainment Group, overseeing the operation of teams in Berlin, Geneva, Hamburg, London, Prague and Stockholm from 2001-05. He also worked for the International Ice Hockey Federation from 19 as a sport development manager, and spent 10 years in various management and coaching positions with club teams in Austria, Germany, Italy, Russia and Switzerland.

Tim Garbutt has spent the last 11 years with Linx Marketing in Edmonton, helping create and deliver the TELUS Edmonton Open and ATB Financial Classic, events on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, and working on events that range from Golf Day in Alberta, the TELUS Skins Game and the Making the Cut hockey reality show. He worked from 1997-99 with LANG & Associates, helping companies build their brands by connecting their target audiences to products and services through the association with sport and lifestyle activities, and spent four years as a marketing manager with the University of Alberta, working with the university’s varsity teams.

“Hockey Canada is very excited to have Al, Chris and Tim involved in this event," said Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada’s president and CEO. "We are confident they will do an amazing job at ensuring the success of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta, and we look forward to them joining the Hockey Canada staff and working with the host committees.”

“The IIHF World Junior Championship is a tradition that all Canadians look forward to every Christmas,” said Jim Peplinski, co-chair of the host organizing committee. “With Al, Chris and Tim onboard, we plan to put on the best World Juniors Canada has ever seen.”

“We are thrilled that Al, Chris and Tim have joined the team for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship,” said Lyle Best, co-chair of the host organizing committee. “Al is one of the most respected men in the Alberta hockey community, and both Chris and Tim bring extensive knowledge and experience in hosting major events. We are extremely pleased they will be working with us towards an exciting World Juniors in Alberta.”