Canada’s men’s hockey coaches announced, Gaels Gibson named head coach
OTTAWA (OUA/CIS) – Ontario University Athletics, in conjunction with Canadian Interuniversity Sport, announced Friday that Brett Gibson from Queen’s University has been appointed head coach of Canada’s men’s hockey entry for the 2017 Winter Universiade in Almaty, Kazakhstan (Jan. 29 – Feb. 8).
OTTAWA (OUA/CIS) – Ontario University Athletics, in conjunction with Canadian Interuniversity Sport, announced Friday that Brett Gibson from Queen's University has been appointed head coach of Canada's men's hockey entry for the 2017 Winter Universiade in Almaty, Kazakhstan (Jan. 29 – Feb. 8).
2017 Winter Universiade official website: www.almaty2017.com
Canada will be represented at the biennial tournament by OUA players and coaches, as part of a conference rotation that has seen each of three CIS men's hockey leagues sport the maple leaf jersey since 1997. In three previous appearances at the event, OUA standouts have captured a pair of bronze medals (2011, 1999) and finished fifth on one occasion (2005).
Gibson is entering his 10th campaign as Queen's head coach in 2015-16, having led the Gaels to eight consecutive playoff appearances and a 114-105-31 regular season record. Named the OUA East and CIS coach of the year in 2013-14, he has also been a strong leader within the OUA Coaches Association, serving as vice-president for six years and as president the past three.
"It's a true privilege and honour to have the opportunity to lead Canada in men's hockey at the 28th Winter Universiade," Gibson said. "The opportunity to coach the best players in OUA against the best the world has to offer is an exciting challenge that we will be prepared for. I look forward to the opportunity to compete at the highest level our student-athletes can compete in on the international stage."
"Coach Gibson has proven himself to be an exceptional leader and great coach within OUA and I can't think of a better individual to lead our men's hockey team to gold in 2017," said Gord Grace, chief executive officer of OUA.
Rounding out the coaching staff for the Almaty Games are general manager and associate coach Brian Bourque from the University of Waterloo, as well as assistant coaches Craig Duncanson from Laurentian and Marty Johnston from Carleton. It will mark the second tour of duty for Bourque at the Universiade as he was general manager of the 2011 bronze medal-winning squad.
Athletic therapist James Sawchuk from Queen's and equipment manager Trevor Black from Waterloo will also make the trip.
Canada has had tremendous success over the years at the FISU men's hockey competition with an impressive 14 medals in 15 appearances, including four Universiade titles in 2013 (AUS selection), 2007 (AUS selection), 1991 (senior national team) and 1981 (University of Alberta).
At the most recent Universiade tournament last winter in Granada, Spain, a team of Canada West all-stars finished in third position behind champion Russia and silver medallist Kazakhstan.
TEAM CANADA COACHING STAFF
Head Coach / Team Leader: Brett Gibson (Queen's University)
General Manger / Associate Coach: Brian Bourque (University of Waterloo)
Assistant Coach: Craig Duncanson (Laurentian University)
Assistant Coach: Marty Johnston (Carleton University)
Athletic Therapist: James Sawchuk (Queen's University)
Equipment Manager: Trevor Black (University of Waterloo)
CANADA'S ALL-TIME RESULTS IN UNIVERSIADE MEN'S HOCKEY
2015 (Granada, Spain): bronze (Canada West)
2013 (Trentino, Italy): gold (AUS)
2011 (Erzurum, Turkey): bronze (OUA)
2009 (Harbin, China): silver (Canada West)
2007 (Turin, Italy): gold (AUS)
2005 (Innsbruck-Seefeld, Austria): 5th (OUA)
2003 (Tarvisio, Italy): bronze (Canada West)
2001 (Zakopane, Poland): silver (AUS)
1999 (Poprad-Tatry, Slovakia): bronze (OUA)
1997 (Muju-Chonju, South Korea): bronze (Canada West)
1995 (Jaca, Spain): Canada did not participate
1993 (Zakopane, Poland): Canada did not participate
1991 (Sapporo, Japan): gold (senior national team)
1989 (Sofia, Bulgaria): Canada did not participate
1987 (Strbske Pleso, Czechoslovakia): bronze (University of Alberta)
1985 (Belluno, Italy): Canada did not participate
1983 (Sofia, Bulgaria): Canada did not participate
1981 (Jaca, Spain): gold (University of Alberta)
1978 (Spindleruv Mlyn, Czechoslovakia): no men's hockey tournament
1975 (Livigno, Italy): no men's hockey tournament
1972 (Lake Placid, USA): silver
1970 (Rovaniemi, Finland): Canada did not participate
1968 (Innsbruck, Austria): bronze (University of Toronto)
1966 (Sestriere, Italy): Canada did not participate
1964 (Spindleruv Mlyn, Czechoslovakia): no men's hockey tournament
1962 (Villars, Switzerland): Canada did not participate
1960 (Chamonix, France): no men's hockey tournament
ALL-TIME MEDALLISTS IN UNIVERSIADE MEN'S HOCKEY
2015 (Granada, Spain): Russia, Kazakhstan, CANADA
2013 (Trentino, Italy) CANADA, Kazakhstan, Russia
2011 (Erzurum, Turkey): Russia, Belarus, CANADA
2009 (Harbin, China): Russia, CANADA, Slovakia
2007 (Turin, Italy): Canada, Russia, Kazakhstan
2005 (Innsbruck-Seefeld, Austria): Russia, Czech Republic, Finland
2003 (Tarvisio, Italy): Russia, Slovakia, CANADA
2001 (Zakopane, Poland): Slovakia, CANADA, Ukraine
1999 (Poprad-Tatry, Slovakia): Ukraine, Slovakia, CANADA
1997 (Muju-Chonju, South Korea): Czech Republic, Finland, CANADA
1995 (Jaca, Spain): Kazakhstan, Czech Republic, Russia
1993 (Zakopane, Poland): Russia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia
1991 (Sapporo, Japan): CANADA, USSR, Finland
1989 (Sofia, Bulgaria): USSR, Czechoslovakia, Finland
1987 (Strbske Pleso, Czechoslovakia): Czechoslovakia, USSR, CANADA
1985 (Belluno, Italy): USSR, Czechoslovakia, Finland
1983 (Sofia, Bulgaria): Czechoslovakia, USSR, Romania
1981 (Jaca, Spain): CANADA, Finland, Japan
1978 (Spindleruv Mlyn, Czechoslovakia): no men's hockey tournament
1975 (Livigno, Italy): no men's hockey tournament
1972 (Lake Placid, USA): USSR, CANADA, USA
1970 (Rovaniemi, Finland): Czechoslovakia, USSR, Finland
1968 (Innsbruck, Austria): USSR, Czechoslovakia, CANADA
1966 (Sestriere, Italy): USSR, Romania, Czechoslovakia
1964 (Spindleruv Mlyn, Czechoslovakia): no men's hockey tournament
1962 (Villars, Switzerland): Czechoslovakia, USSR, Sweden
1960 (Chamonix, France): no men's hockey tournament
About the Winter Universiade
The Winter Universiade is a biennial international multi-sport event open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event. The Universiade is recognized as the largest global winter multi-sport event for student-athletes, with a record of 2,668 participants in 2013 in Trentino, Italy, and of 52 participating countries in 2011 in Erzurum, Turkey.
Official 2017 website: www.almaty2017.com
About Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 20 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca
