MacDougall To Coach Team Canada U18s
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s hockey team will be watching closely as Canada competes at the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Under-18 World Championship, April 25th through May 5th, in Finland. That’s because REDS’ head coach Gardiner MacDougall will serve as the head coach of Team Canada.
“Sometimes a phone call can alter or change your life, in this case for the positive,” said MacDougall. “I got a call from Scott Salmond at Hockey Canada and he asked about my interest in it.”
Salmond is Hockey Canada’s vice president of hockey operations and national teams.
“It’s a huge honour and privilege, and really a duty for your country,” said MacDougall. “I think the experience at the World University Games, obviously with older players, will be helpful in providing a foundation. With the under-18s, it’s the first full Team Canada experience.”
MacDougall will work with assistant coaches Travis Crickard, current head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, Bruce Richardson, former head coach of Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL, and Ryan Smith, head coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, and goaltending coach Dan De Palma, who has served as goalie coach with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers for 14 seasons.
Canada’s entry is being selected by Hockey Canada and will be comprised of players from the Canadian Hockey League.
“Gardiner has not only solidified himself as one of the greatest coaches in university hockey history, his record and reputation speaks for itself,” said Salmond. “His nine U SPORTS championships and 2022 Memorial Cup win with Saint John are proof of his ability to win in short-term competition, which will serve us well at the world championship.”
Not every 17-year-old identified by Hockey Canada will join the team, because of on-going commitments to their major junior teams.
“Some of them are still playing for their major junior teams and won’t be able to participate, but for the players whose teams have been eliminated, this is the first real opportunity to be a united Team Canada,” said MacDougall. “Obviously, their draft year for the NHL is coming up for a majority of these players, so there’s a double purpose.”
Canada is in a pool with Czechia, Kazahkstan, Sweden, and Switzerland. A second pool features the host Finns, Denmark, Norway, Slovakia, and the United States.
Canada opens play against the Swedes on Thursday, April 25th. That game is scheduled to begin at 1:00pm Atlantic time.
“We don’t have that many practices together as a group, so we’re going to have to find ways to become better and united every day,” said MacDougall. “We’ll get our practices in and we’ve got two exhibition games and then we have to be ready for Team Sweden on opening day.”
While he admits there is pressure that comes with a Hockey Canada assignment, MacDougall says he’ll use the same philosophy that’s made him so successful at the university level, getting better every day.
“Hockey players want to get better and they want to have the chance to be the best version of themselves, and you double that up when they get a chance to represent our country, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
“The goal is to get better every day and hopefully have enough days.”
Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals at the U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), one silver medal (2005), and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).
The United States won the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics with files from Hockey Canada
FILE PHOTO BY: James West/for UNB Athletics