2023 World Juniors | Stéphane Julien named Canada’s assistant coach

With less than two months until the puck drops on the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada has named staff that will lead Canada’s National Junior Team in its gold medal defence in Halifax and Moncton.

After helping lead Canada to a gold medal at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant coach, Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL) returns to take the reigns as head coach. He will be joined by assistant coaches Stéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Brent Kisio (Calgary, Alta./Lethbridge, WHL) and Alan Letang (Renfrew, Ont./Sarnia, OHL), as well as goaltending consultant Kelly Guard (Prince Albert, Sask./Prince Albert, WHL) and video coach James Emery (Calgary, Alta.).

Julien most recently led Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team as head coach, winning a gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is currently in his third season as head coach and general manager of the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix. Julien was previously the head coach for parts of five seasons (2016-20) before adding the general manager title and served as an assistant coach for four seasons (2012-15). He was also an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship and head coach of Team Canada Black at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

The support staff that will work with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2023 World Juniors also includes other members with ties to the QMJHL. Athletic therapist Kevin Elliott (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) is back with the team after occupying the same role for many seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders. He is joined by Team physician Dr. R.J. Mackenzie (Albert Bridge, N.S.), the current Team Doctor of the Cape Breton Eagles.

Canada’s National Junior Team will gather at the Avenir Centre in Moncton for a four-day selection camp, December 9-12, before selecting a final roster ahead of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The selection camp roster will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Source: Hockey Canada