World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Finland
Dennis Williams as head coach; Stéphane Julien, Brent Kisio, Alan Letang named assistants
CALGARY, Alta. – Less than two months until the puck drops 2023 IIHF World Junior ChampionshipHockey Canada has named the staff to lead Canada’s national junior team in defense of its gold medal in Halifax, NS and Moncton, NB.
After helping Canada to a gold medal at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships as an assistant coach, Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL) returns to take the reins as head coach. He will be accompanied by assistant coaches Stéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Brent Kisio (Calgary, Alta./Lethbridge, WHL) and Alan Letang (Renfrew, Ont./Sarnia, OHL)and goalkeeper consultant Kelly Guard (Prince Albert, Sask. / Prince Albert, WHL) and a video coach James Emery (Calgary, Alta.).
Chosen by the coaching staff Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.)director of player personnel, James Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL)who returns to lead the U20s in the Program of Excellence leadership team after helping assemble the team that won gold at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships, and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC)director of hockey operations.
“We are excited to welcome Dennis and James Boyd back after the 2022 World Juniors gold medal to help bring momentum and consistency from our success over the summer,” Millar said. “We are also excited to welcome Stéphane, Brent, Alan, Kelly and James Emery as each coach brings a wealth of experience and success from the Canadian Hockey League and international level. We believe we have put together a world-class coaching team that will play a big part in defending our gold medal on the East Coast starting next month.
Williams is in his sixth season as head coach of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and added the title of head coach to his duties in July 2021. He has led the Silvertips to four American Division titles, three Western Conference regular season titles. and in the Western Conference playoffs. He has been named WHL Western Conference Coach of the Year twice (2017-18, 2019-20) and American Division Coach of the Year once (2021-22). In addition to his gold medal at the 2022 World Juniors, Williams won silver as an assistant for Canada’s national men’s under-18 summer team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also served as the head coach of Team Canada Black at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Julien most recently led Canada’s national under-18 summer team as head coach and won a gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is currently in his third season as head coach and head coach of the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Julien previously served as head coach for five seasons (2016-20) before adding the title of general manager, and served as an assistant coach for four seasons (2012-15). He was also an assistant coach for Canada’s U18 Men’s National Team at the 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship and the head coach of Team Canada Black at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.
Kisio is in his eighth season as head coach of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. Before joining the Hurricanes, he worked for eight seasons as an assistant coach (2007-15) and assistant manager (2014-15) in the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, helping to lead the team to the WHL championship in 2010. Internationally, he served as e.g. assistant coach with the Canadian National Junior Team at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships, won a gold medal as head coach at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, won silver as an assistant with Team Pacific at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and served as the head coach of Team Canada White at the 2016 World Under-17 In the Hockey Challenge.
Letang was an assistant coach on Julien’s staff for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Summer Team, which won gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer. He is in his second season as the head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and previously spent five seasons with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack as an assistant coach (2016-19) and head coach (2019-20). . Letang also won a gold medal as an assistant coach for Canada’s junior team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Support staff working with the Canadian National Junior Team at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships include:
- Sports therapists Kevin Elliott (Charlottetown, PEI) and Andy Brown (Owen Sound, Ont./Owen Sound, OHL)
- Team doctor Dr. RJ Mackenzie (Albert Bridge, NS/Cape Breton, QMJHL)
- Equipment managers Gord Cochran (Williams Lake, BC/Regina, WHL) and Chris Cook (Ottawa, Ont./Hamilton, OHL)
- Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, Ont./Ottawa, OHL)
- Mental performance consultant Luke Madill (Kirkland, Que.)
- Director of Ice Hockey Operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.)
- Senior Coordinator of Ice Hockey Operations Natalie Gerstmar (Calgary, Alta)
- Coordinator of ice hockey activities Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, Male)
- Security Contact Bob Martin (London, Ont./London, OHL)
- Media relations manager Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, Ont.)
“The Canadian Junior National Team coaching and support staff is a diverse, experienced group that has been integral to the recent success of Hockey Canada’s national teams,” said Salmond. “We know these individuals will play an important role in our team’s success at the World Juniors, and we look forward to the opportunity to once again compete for a gold medal on home ice in Halifax and Moncton.”
Canada’s National Junior Team will gather at the Avenir Center in Moncton for a four-day selection camp from the 9th to the 12th. December, before selecting a final roster ahead of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The list of the selection camp will be announced in the next few weeks.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships, visit HockeyCanada.caor follow along on social media Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.