Flyers executive Hextall named Canada’s GM for world championship
CALGARY — Ron Hextall has been named Canada’s general manager for the 2017 world hockey championship.
Hockey Canada announced its management team for the tournament in a release Monday. Hextall will be joined by assistant GM Sean Burke, as well as Hockey Canada vice-president Scott Salmond and director of player personnel Larry Carriere.
Hextall was part of Canada’s management team at the 2014 world championship and competed for Canada as a player in 1992.
The former star Philadelphia goaltender was named executive vice-president and general manager of the Flyers prior to the 201415 NHL season after rejoining the organization in 2013 as assistant general manager and director of hockey operations.
Prior to that, Hextall logged seven seasons as the vice-president and assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, where he helped the team capture the Stanley Cup in 2012.
He appeared in 608 games as a player, amassing 296 wins and helping the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup final in 1987 and 1997.
Burke is wrapping up his first season with the Montreal Canadiens as a professional scout. His international experience in management includes serving as general manager of Canada’s 2016 Spengler Cup championship-winning team. He was also part of two world-championship-winning teams, as director of player development in 2016 and as part of the management group in 2015.
Burke is Canada’s all-time goaltending leader in games played (35), minutes played (1,991), and wins (21) at the world championship, winning two gold and two silver medals in five appearances as a player.
Salmond has been with Hockey Canada since 2001, serving in his current position of vice-president of hockey operations and national teams since June 2014.
Carriere joined the Montreal Canadiens as assistant general manager in 2010.
“These four gentlemen bring a tremendous amount of experience in hockey management and in international competition as we look to assemble the best possible team to represent Canada at the 2017 World Championship,” Tom Renney, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, said in a statement. “With the NHL regular season winding down, some very quick and smart decisions need to be made in regards to coaching staff and player selections; Ron, Sean, Scott, and Larry are prepared for the work ahead, and their collective knowledge and experience will be invaluable as Team Canada quickly assembles in preparation for its opening game on May 5.”