Calgary, Alta.- Saskatoon Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva is set to make his international coaching debut.
The 41-year-old from Saskatoon, Sask. will helm Canada Red at the 2026 U17 World Challenge in November.
DaSilva is one of four WHL coaches who will get to work with Canada’s U17 teams this season.
Lethbridge Hurricanes assistant coach Ryan Aasman (Medicine Hat, Alta.) will join DaSilva on Canada Red, while Edmonton Oil Kings and Hlinka Gretzky Cup assistant coach Kyle Chipchura (Westlock, Alta.) and Regina Pats goaltending coach Max Paddock (Brandon, Man.) are on staff for Canada White.
Staff have been chosen by Program of Excellence General Manager and former WHL executive Alan Millar, along with assistant general manager and Portland Winterhawks President/General Manager Mike Johnson, and Director of Hockey Operations Benoit Roy.
“We are excited to announce the coaching and support staffs that will lead our teams through the 2026 U17 World Challenge, as we believe both staffs bring incredible Canadian Hockey League and international experience that will greatly benefit our players,” Millar said. “As we kick off the season at summer development camp next month and introduce the top under-17 players in Canada to the Program of Excellence, we know this staff will help us set the foundation and expectations for our players as we prepare to compete in November and prepare players for future Hockey Canada events.”
DaSilva recently completed his second season as Head Coach of his hometown Blades, in addition to three prior seasons as an associate and assistant coach.
He helped the Blades clinch the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s top regular-season team in 2023-24 and, despite major roster turnover, hasn’t missed the WHL Playoffs in the two seasons since. The Blades were the only lower-seed team to pull off an upset in Round One of the 2026 WHL Playoffs when they eliminated the Edmonton Oil Kings in Game 7.
As a player, DaSilva spent three seasons with the Portland Winterhawks, highlighted by a 56-point (36G-20A) campaign that saw him make the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team in 2004-05. He went on to a 15-year professional career before making the switch to coaching.
Aasman is entering his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes. He previously spent one season as the team’s video coach.
The 34-year-old was part of the Canes squad that marched to the 2025 Eastern Conference Championship, where they fell to the eventual champion Medicine Hat Tigers.
He brings prior international experience with a recent turn as Canada’s video coach at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship.
Fresh off being named an assistant coach for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Chipchura is gearing up for a second spin at the U17 World Challenge.
The Edmonton Oil Kings assistant coach was on the bench for Canada White’s silver-medal performance in November of 2025.
In his playing days, Chipchura spent parts of five seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders, culminating in his final year, which saw him captain the Raiders, make the WHL Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team, and capture gold as Canada’s captain at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Paddock, 26, wears many hats as Regina’s Director of Hockey Operations and goaltending coach.
He played parts of five seasons for the Pats and Raiders, while backstopping Regina to the 2019 Memorial Cup Final.
Canada’s national under-17 development camp will be held at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ont., from July 17-21, though players will continue to be evaluated through the regular season in the lead-up to the tournament.
The 2026 U17 World Challenge runs from November 1-7 in Oakville, Ont.
