Gerard Gallant, left, and Mike Kelly. (Image: www.sjseadogs.com)
A former Saint John Sea Dogs coach will lead Canada at the upcoming men’s world hockey championship.
Gerard Gallant was named head coach for Canada’s national men’s team by Hockey Canada on Wednesday.
Gallant was an assistant coach with Team Canada at the world championship in 2007 and 2017, winning gold and silver, and also served as an assistant coach with Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
He spent three seasons as head coach of the Sea Dogs from 2009 to 2012, leading the team to back-to-back QMJHL championships and a Memorial Cup victory.
Gallant has also had coaching stints with several NHL teams, including Columbus, Florida, and, most recently, Vegas.
He will be joined behind the bench by Mike Kelly, who has been named of two assistant coaches for Team Canada.
Kelly served as an assistant coach to Gallant in both Vegas and Florida.
He also spent four seasons with the Sea Dogs, including two as associate coach alongside Gallant and two as head coach and general manager.
Canada opens the 2021 IIHF World Championship on May 21 against host Latvia with preliminary-round games through June 1.
Canada will also face Italy, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Norway, and the United States in the preliminary round before the tournament wraps up with the bronze and gold medal games on June 6.
#IIHFWorlds To-Do List:
Coaching staff ✅
Gerard Gallant will take the reins as head coach of Canada's National Men's Team, working alongside assistants Mike Kelly and André Tourigny. 🇨🇦
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) April 28, 2021
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