Steadman Named to Canada Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Coaching Staff
Published on July 17, 2025 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
London Knights News Release
Hockey Canada has announced the coaching and support staffs that will lead Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team in defence of its gold medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as well as Canada's national under-17 teams through the 2025 U17 World Challenge.
After leading Canada White to a gold medal as head coach at the 2024 U17 World Challenge and helping lead Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team to a gold medal as an assistant at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship, Mathieu Turcotte (Kirkland, QC) will take the reins as head coach of Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team. He will be joined by associate coach Travis Crickard (St. John's, NL/Saint John, QMJHL), assistant coach Rick Steadman (London, ON/London, OHL), as well as goaltending consultant Antoine Samuel (Lac-Etchemin, QC/Moncton, QMJHL) and video coach Jonathan Deschênes (Québec, QC/Sherbrooke, QMJHL).
"We are excited to announce the coaching and support staff that will lead our National Men's Summer Under-18 Team through selection camp and at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup," said Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), general manager of the Program of Excellence. "We are confident their Canadian Hockey League experience, in addition to their backgrounds in international tournaments, will help build and lead a team ready to compete in August."
Turcotte spent the past two seasons (2023-25) as head coach of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Prior to joining the Armada, he served as head coach of the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François of the Ligue de hockey M18 AAA du Québec, winning gold at the 2023 Men's U18 National Club Championship. He also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs (2019-22), six seasons with the LHM18AAAQ's Chevaliers de Lévis as an assistant coach (2008-10) and the GM/head coach (2015-19). Turcotte was also an assistant coach with the QMJHL's Val-d'Or Foreurs (2010-12) and Chicoutimi Saguenéens (2012-14). Internationally, he won gold medals as head coach of Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge and as an assistant at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.
Crickard recently completed his third season as the head coach of the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs and was promoted to general manager in October 2024. He also spent time with the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Ottawa 67's (2013-14) and Western Hockey League's (WHL) Kelowna Rockets (2014-19). Crickard has won three gold medals with Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team at the IIHF U18 World Championship, twice as an assistant coach (2024, 2025) and once as a video coach in 2021. He also won a silver medal as the head coach of Canada Red at the 2024 U17 World Challenge. Crickard was an assistant coach for Canada's men's hockey team at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, finishing fourth. He was a member of Canada Black at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge as a video coach (2016)-winning a silver medal-and an assistant coach in 2017.
Steadman has been an assistant coach with the OHL's London Knights since the 2014-15 season. As an assistant coach, he has helped guide the Knights to two Memorial Cup Championships (2016, 2025) and three OHL Championships (2016, 2024, 2025). Steadman previously held various coaching positions with the U18 AAA Gold Mavericks in the Ontario Hockey Academy. Internationally, he was an assistant coach with Canada Black at the 2023 U17 World Challenge.
Canada will open the preliminary round of the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Finland on Aug. 11 at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT. It will also take on Switzerland and Czechia on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13, respectively, before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 16. Prior to the start of the tournament, Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team will play pre-tournament games in Budapest against Hungary's national under-20 team on Aug. 7 and in Piestany against Slovakia on Aug. 9.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from July 17, 2025
- Hockey Canada Invites Mbuyi, Zurawski, Delisle & Munnings to Summer Selection Camps - Owen Sound Attack
- Steadman Named to Canada Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Coaching Staff - London Knights
- Erie Otters Sign First Round Import Selection Alex Misiak - Erie Otters
- Four Kitchener Rangers Invited to Canada's Program of Excellence Summer Camps - Kitchener Rangers
- Ellsworth and McLean to Attend Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Summer Camp Ahead of 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships - Guelph Storm
- Reznik and Wycisk to Attend Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Summer Camp - Guelph Storm
- Hanrahan, Zhilkin Named to Program of Excellence Camps, Drinkill Reprises U17 Director of Operations Role - Saginaw Spirit
- Betts, Kulemin, Henderson Selected to Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Summer Camps - Kingston Frontenacs
- Hockey Canada Names Sam Roberts to U17 Development Camp - Oshawa Generals
- Windsor Spitfires Trio Invited to TeamCanada U18 Development Camp - Windsor Spitfires
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- Three Petes Invited to Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Summer Camps - Peterborough Petes
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