WHL Saskatoon Blades

Mitch Love Named Assistant Coach for Team Canada National Junior Team

May 14, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


CALGARY, Alta. - Six coaches have been selected to lead Canada's National Junior Team and Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, respectively.

Dale Hunter (London, Ont./London, OHL) will serve as the head coach for Canada's National Junior Team, with André Tourigny (Nicolet, Que./Ottawa, OHL) and Mitch Love (Quesnel, B.C./Saskatoon, WHL) serving as assistants.

On the under-18 side, Dan Lambert (Saint Boniface, Man./Spokane, WHL) will lead Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team, with Mario Duhamel (Saint-Bruno, Que./Ottawa, OHL) and Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL) as assistant coaches.

"We are excited about the two coaching staffs that have been assembled for Canada's National Junior Team and Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team, both of which include a combination of Canadian Hockey League, National Hockey League and international coaching experience," said Shawn Bullock, director of men's national teams for Hockey Canada. "We know all six coaches will represent our country with a tremendous amount of pride as they look to bring home gold medals at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup."

Hunter has spent 18 seasons as the owner, president and head coach of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), leading the team to five Memorial Cup appearances, winning the title twice (2005, 2016). He has been named OHL coach of the year three times (2004, 2005, 2010), adding CHL coach of the year honours in 2004. Hunter spent part of the 2011-12 season as head coach of the NHL's Washington Capitals but returned to the Knights' bench for the 2012-13 season. He has represented Canada once, winning a gold medal as head coach of Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Hunter is also a veteran of 19 NHL seasons with Quebec and Washington, and had his No. 32 retired by the Capitals.

Tourigny has served two seasons as head coach and vice-president of hockey operations with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He previously spent 11 seasons with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (2002-13) and one season with the Halifax Mooseheads (2016-17) of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Tourigny also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2013-15) and Ottawa Senators (2015-16) in the National Hockey League. He led Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and served as an assistant coach at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Tourigny also won back-to-back silver medals as an assistant coach with Canada's National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2010 and 2011.

Love was named head coach with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in May 2017 after eight seasons (2009-17) as an assistant coach with the Everett Silvertips. Last summer, he won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Love also won gold as an assistant with Team Canada White at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and was an assistant with Team Canada Red in 2016. As a player, he played five seasons in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors (2000-01), Swift Current Broncos (2001-03) and Silvertips (2003-05).

For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada's National Junior Team or Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.caor follow through social media on Facebook, Twitterand Twitter.com/HC_Men.

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