Journal staff
Sarnia Sting head coach Alan Letang will take the reins as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament in Czechia and Slovakia next month.
Hockey Canada made the announcement this week, adding that Letang will be joined by assistant coaches Kris Mallette (Kelowna, BC/Kelowna, WHL); Sylvain Favreau (Orleans, ON/Drummondville, QMJHL); goaltending consultant Justin Pogge (Penticton, BC) and video coach James Emery (Calgary, AB).
“We are excited to unveil the coaching and support staff that will lead our National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team in its defence of our gold medal at this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said Alan Millar, director of player personnel. “Alan, Kris, Sylvain, Justin and James bring extensive experience both at the international and Canadian Hockey League level, and we know this group of coaches will provide valuable leadership to our team while wearing the Maple Leaf with pride next month.”
Letang most recently won a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant coach, and was an assistant with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team when it won gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
He also won a gold medal as an assistant with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Letang recently completed his second season (2021-23) as head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and previously spent five seasons with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack as an assistant coach (2016-19) and head coach (2019-20).
Canada will open the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Finland on July 31 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. It will also take on co-host Slovakia and Switzerland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 5.