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WHL Regina Pats

Herauf and Watson Named to Hockey Canada U-17 Staff

November 5, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Regina, Sask. - Regina Pats Assistant Coach Brad Herauf and Director of Hockey Operations Landon Watson will represent Hockey Canada at the Capital City Challenge, a four-team tournament featuring three men's under-17 teams and Canada's National Women's Team, Nov. 26-Dec. 1 in Ottawa, Ont.

Herauf, 39, was named an assistant coach for Canada White by Hockey Canada. The Regina, Sask., native is in seventh season as a coach with the Pats after he previously coached the Regina Pat Canadians from 2013-2015, winning both a Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League Championship and a Western Canada Regional Midget AAA championship in 2015. He was also a Head Coach for Team Saskatchewan at the 2016 Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup, as well as an Assistant Coach for Team Saskatchewan at the 2015 Canada Winter Games. Prior to coaching, Herauf played four seasons in the SJHL with the Estevan Bruins and Battlefords North Stars before embarking on an eight year professional hockey career split between the CHL, ECHL and AHL.

"Anytime you can represent your country and Hockey Canada is an honour," Herauf said. "I can't wait to work with everyone at Hockey Canada in a few weeks."

Watson, 27, returns as a Video Coach with the U-17's after he was the Video Coordinator in 2020, but the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19. The Neilburg, Sask., native studied Sport Management and Business Admin at the University of Regina from 2012 to 2016, before gaining an internship with the Pats in January of 2016. His internship led to a job with the Pats as a Video Analyst in October of the 2016-17 season, where he worked in that role up until January of 2018, where his title changed to Director of Hockey Analytics. This July, Watson was promoted to Director of Hockey Operations.

"I am excited to be selected as a video coach for the 2021 Capital City Challenge," Watson said. "I'm looking forward to building off last summer's virtual Under-17 Development Camp and meeting new and returning members in person for the first time."

A total of 66 players were selected to wear the Maple Leaf. They will be divided into three teams - Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White - and will compete against Canada's National Women's Team as part of its centralization schedule. The rosters for Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

The Capital City Challenge opens on Nov. 26 at TD Place Arena, home of the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League. Canada's centralization roster will face Team Canada White in the tournament opener at 12 p.m. ET, followed by Team Canada Black taking on Team Canada Red at 7 p.m. ET.

Since 2001, 10 Canadians that have competed with one of Canada's national men's under-17 teams have been selected first overall in the NHL Draft (Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013; Aaron Ekblad, 2014; Connor McDavid, 2015; Alexis Lafrenière, 2020; Owen Power, 2021).

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