ROCKY THOMPSON SELECTED TO CANADIAN COACHING STAFF FOR NATIONAL MEN’S SUMMER UNDER-17 TEAMS

On the under-17 side, Paul Boutilier (Sydney, N.S./Saint John, QMJHL) will serve as head coach for Team Canada Black, Brent Kisio (Calgary/Lethbridge, WHL) will head Team Canada White, while Rocky Thompson (Calgary/Windsor, OHL) will lead Team Canada Red at Canada’s national under-17 development camp and at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Chris Dennis (Toronto/York University, OUA) and David Struch (Flin Flon, Man./Regina, WHL) will serve as assistants for Team Canada Black, Jamie Heward (Regina, Sask./Swift Current, WHL) and Daniel Jacob (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL) will join Kisio as assistant coaches for Team Canada White, while Mitch Love (Quesnel, B.C./Everett, WHL) and Ryan Marsh (Quesnel, B.C./Edmonton, WHL) will join Thompson on Team Canada Red.

Canada’s national men’s under-17 teams

Boutilier has served as an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs since 2015. Prior to joining the Sea Dogs, he served as an associate coach for Dalhousie University (AUS) from 2009-13, and was also the head coach at Saint Mary’s University from 1993-97. As a player, Boutilier was twice a member of Canada’s National Junior Team, winning gold in 1982 and bronze in 1983 at the IIHF World Junior Championship. He also played eight seasons in the NHL with Boston, Minnesota, New York, and Winnipeg from 1982-89.

Kisio just completed his first season as head coach of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes after spending eight seasons as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen (2007-15). He was also behind the bench as assistant coach for Team Pacific at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. As a player, he spent four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (2003-07) after playing the 2002-03 season with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.

Thompson just completed his first season as head coach of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. He previously served as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers during the 2014-15 season, and was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons from 2010-14 and WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings from 2007-10. As a player, Thompson played three seasons with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers (1993-96). From 1995-2007, he played in the AHL with Saint John, Louisville, Hershey, San Antonio, Toronto, Edmonton and Peoria, and appeared in 25 NHL games with Calgary and Florida.

“I’m very excited to have my first opportunity to work with Hockey Canada. To represent my country. I saw who is going be with me on the staff and think it’s great. Both guys (Mitch Love and Ryan Marsh) are Western Hockey League assistant coaches. I actually grew up with Marshy up in Quesnel, British Columbia. So there’s relationships there. I think that will help us in all facets. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity. We won’t disappoint.” – Windsor Spitfires Head Coach Rocky Thompson

Hockey Canada’s National Teams’ Summer Showcase will be held July 26 to Aug. 2 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel, will lead player selection for the camp and camp invites will be announced in the coming weeks for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp and Canada’s national under-17 development camp.

Feature photo courtesy the Windsor Spitfires