Doug Armstrong, Steve Yzerman, Shane Doan to make up Canada’s leadership team for World Hockey Championship
Hockey Canada has announced that St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong will serve as the team’s manager for the upcoming men’s World Hockey Championship in Latvia and Finland.
Armstrong previously served as an assistant GM at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, winning gold at both. He was the lead manager for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, another event Canada won. He has been part of Canada’s World Championship efforts at various points, helping win silver as GM in 2009. Armstrong currently serves as GM and president of hockey operations with the St. Louis Blues, winning the 2019 Stanley Cup – the only championship in the franchise’s history.
Detroit’s Steve Yzerman will also serve as an associate general manager, while Shane Doan will be an assistant GM. Yzerman won gold as a player at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and won silver at the 1985 and 1989 World Championships. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame, and has also led Canada to two Olympic golds as a general manager.
Doan has been a big part of Canada’s international efforts recently, serving as GM of the Olympic and World Championship teams last year. Currently serving as Arizona’s director of hockey administration, Doan also was Canada’s GM at the Spengler Cup this year, and was part of Canada’s management team taht won gold at the 2021 World Championship. As a player, Doan won two World Championships, finished second three times and won the 2004 World Cup with Canada.
“Doug, Steve and Shane have been successful in the NHL and at the Olympics, world championships and world cups, and Jim, Jamie and Tim bring critical NHL experience,” said Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president Scott Salmond. We are fortunate to have six individuals with extensive pedigrees who are dedicated to helping us build towards our goal of winning a gold medal in Tampere and Riga.”
Canada will open the 2023 tournament against Latvia on May 12. The tournament will take place from May 12-28, with Canada looking to win gold for the third time in four years. The team has yet to announce its coaching staff or roster, but will do so in the coming weeks as more teams are eliminated from NHL playoff contention.