CALGARY – Hockey Canada named Monday a National Men’s Team management group that will serve through the 2013-14 season and sees Steve Yzerman return as executive director after leading Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

In all, the management group includes four individuals that were part of the management team that led Canada to Olympic gold in Vancouver.

Canada’s National Men’s Team management group (through 2013-14)

Executive director: Steve Yzerman (Tampa Bay, NHL).
Management group: Doug Armstrong (St. Louis, NHL), Ken Holland (Detroit, NHL), Kevin Lowe (Edmonton, NHL), Bob Nicholson (Hockey Canada), Brad Pascall (Hockey Canada).

The management group will oversee and lead operations for Canada’s National Men’s Team, including staff selection, player evaluation and selection as well as team operations for international events. Hockey Canada’s senior director of national teams and hockey operations, Scott Salmond, will continue to oversee team logistics, working closely with the management group.

The national men’s team will participate in the annual IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship that will be co-hosted by Finland and Sweden in the upcoming two years and in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Hockey Canada also announced, in collaboration with Yzerman, that Kevin Lowe will be the general manager of Canada’s entry at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Lowe will be supported by the entire management group as well as two assistant general managers.
 
Team Canada’s 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship management team

Vice-president, Hockey Canada: Brad Pascall (Hockey Canada).
General manager: Kevin Lowe (Edmonton, NHL).
Assistant general managers: Peter Chiarelli (Boston, NHL), Dave Nonis (Toronto, NHL).

The 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will be held in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden, from May 4-17, with Canada based in Helsinki for the entire event.

“I am very pleased with the group that we have assembled to lead us through the next two seasons,” said Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson.

“Steve, Doug, Ken and Kevin provide a great deal of experience gained from their involvement in 2010 and their long-time involvement with our program. Brad has been with Hockey Canada since 1998 and brings a wealth of international experience to the group, having led Canada at the IIHF World Championship, IIHF World Women’s Championship and IIHF World Junior Championship. Peter and Dave have great experience as well that will benefit the group as we prepare for this year’s World Championship.”

“I would like to thank Bob Nicholson and Hockey Canada for the opportunity to return to this role of executive director,” said Yzerman. “While winning in Vancouver was something unique and extraordinary, I am as excited about taking on another great challenge. I look forward to working with Doug, Ken, Kevin, Peter and Dave and the Hockey Canada staff to put a plan in place to bring Canada success internationally.”