CALGARY, Alberta – Four assistant coaches with OHL roots and one current league staff member will represent the league behind the bench and in the gym when Canada hits the ice at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Bruce Cassidy, Peter DeBoer, Rick Tocchet, and Misha Donskov have all been named to Canada’s coaching staff, while Ottawa 67’s Director of Conditioning Sean Young will serve as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.
Hockey Canada has announced that the coaching and support staffs that helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off championship will return to work with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team through the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, set for Feb. 11-22, 2026.
Assistant coaches Bruce Cassidy (Ottawa, ON / Vegas, NHL), Peter DeBoer (Dunnville, ON) and Rick Tocchet (Scarborough, ON / Philadelphia, NHL), assistant coach and eye-in-the-sky Misha Donskov (London, ON), goaltending consultant David Alexander (Moncton, NB / St. Louis, NHL), director of performance analysis James Emery (Calgary, AB) and video coordinator Elliott Mondou (Grand-Mère, QC/St. Louis, NHL) have been named to the coaching staff alongside Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC / Tampa Bay, NHL), who was named head coach for the 2026 Olympics last June.
The coaching staff was selected by Cooper, general manager Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON / St. Louis, NHL), assistant general managers Julien BriseBois (Greenfield Park, QC / Tampa Bay, NHL), Jim Nill (Hanna, AB / Dallas, NHL) and Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB / Boston, NHL), and director of player personnel Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie, ON / Pittsburgh, NHL). They were supported by Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK), and Hockey Canada president and CEO Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), who make up the executive committee preparing for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Before joining the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dubas spent nine seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Soo Greyhounds, beginning as an analyst from 2000–2003 and later serving as a scout (2003–2006) before returning as general manager from 2011–2014.
“After a successful 4 Nations Face-Off, I am excited to welcome Bruce, Peter, Rick, Misha, David, James, and Elliott back to Canada’s coaching staff for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, as this is a highly skilled group of coaches that bring impressive résumés to our staff,” said Cooper. “This group of coaches will provide consistency and a winning pedigree to our team, and I know our players will greatly benefit from this world-class coaching staff. I look forward to working alongside all seven as we look to replicate our 4 Nations success on the Olympic stage in February.”
Cassidy, head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights since 2022, won the Stanley Cup in 2023 and the Jack Adams Award in 2020. He previously served as head coach of the Boston Bruins, Providence Bruins, and Washington Capitals, and was an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks. In the OHL, Cassidy played three seasons (1982-1985) with the Ottawa 67’s and later returned to coach the Kingston Frontenacs from 2006-2008.
DeBoer most recently served as head coach of the Dallas Stars for three seasons (2022-25), following head coaching roles in Vegas, San Jose, New Jersey, and Florida. He guided teams to two Stanley Cup Final appearances (2012, 2016). His OHL roots run deep: after playing four seasons with the Windsor Compuware Spitfires (1985-1989), DeBoer transitioned into coaching, beginning as an assistant during the Detroit Jr. Red Wings’ 1994–95 OHL Championship season. He was head coach and GM of the Detroit Jr. Whalers/Plymouth Whalers from 1995-2001, earning OHL Coach of the Year in 1998–99 and 1999–2000. From 2001-2008, he served as GM and head coach of the Kitchener Rangers, winning OHL titles in 2003 and 2008, as well as a Memorial Cup championship in 2003.
Tocchet, who will coach the Philadelphia Flyers in 2025-26, previously led the Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes and served as an assistant with Pittsburgh during its back-to-back Cup wins. He played 1,144 NHL games after a junior career in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds from 1981-1984, having been selected 70th overall in the 1981 OHL Priority Selection.
Donskov was an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars for the past two seasons (2023-25). He also spent several years with the Vegas Golden Knights in coaching and hockey operations roles. In the OHL, he was part of the London Knights’ coaching staff from 2009-2012, serving as an assistant coach and then assistant GM, and helped guide the Knights to an OHL Championship in 2012. He later worked as an associate coach with the Ottawa 67’s from 2012-2014.
Sean Young, strength and conditioning coach for Team Canada, has been on staff with the Ottawa 67’s since 2018-19. Promoted to Director of Conditioning for the 2023-24 season, Young has worked with Hockey Canada at international events since the 2021-22 season, including the last four IIHF World Junior Championships.
The support staff that will work with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games includes:
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Sport physiotherapist Kent Kobelka (Revelstoke, BC / Calgary, NHL)
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Athletic therapist Domenic Nicoletta (Sault Ste. Marie, ON / Ottawa, NHL)
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Massage therapists Marcin Goszczynski (Calgary, AB) and Andy Hüppi (Schmerikon, SUI)
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Team physician Dr. Ian Auld (Victoria, BC / Calgary, NHL)
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Equipment managers John Forget (Oshawa, ON / Ottawa, NHL) and Darren Granger (Brandon, MB / Los Angeles, NHL)
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Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, ON / Ottawa, OHL)
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Mental performance consultant Dr. Ryan Hamilton (Fredericton, NB / Tampa Bay, NHL)
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Hockey operations managers Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB) and Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, MB)
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Hockey operations coordinator Miah Armitage (Creston, BC)
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Media relations vice-president Sean Kelso (North Vancouver, BC / Calgary, NHL)
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Media relations manager Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, ON)
“It was important to bring back our elite coaches and support staff from the 4 Nations Face-Off, as this is a group that provides familiarity to our team and brings a desire to help our athletes perform at their best,” said Armstrong. “Each individual brings unique NHL and international experience to our team, and all staff members will play a key role in Team Canada’s preparation and performance. We know everyone is excited for the opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympic Winter Games and wear the Maple Leaf with pride in Italy.”
Canada will open the men’s Olympic hockey tournament against Czechia on Feb. 12 at 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT at Milano Santa Giulia Arena. It will also take on Switzerland on Feb. 13 at 3:10 p.m. ET / 12:10 p.m. PT and France on Feb. 15 at 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT before the tournament concludes with the gold medal game on Feb. 22 at 8:10 a.m. ET / 5:10 a.m. PT.
All nominations to Team Canada are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
