PLUM JOB FOR HUNTER
He’ll be part of world juniors
The Moose Jaw Warriors have a storied history of sending players to the world junior hockey championship.
Now they will be sending a coach to the tournament for the first time.
Hockey Canada announced Monday that Warriors head coach Tim Hunter will be an assistant on Dominique Ducharme’s staff for the 2017 world junior championship, to be held in Montreal and Toronto.
“It’s an honour to represent your country,” Hunter said. “I’m really excited about this. It’s going to be a thrill. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s going to be a great experience and I know we’re going to be a great staff together and do a terrific job.”
Hunter, 55, will be joined by Imperial’s Kris Knoblauch, who coaches the OHL’s Erie Otters and won a WHL title in 2011 as the Kootenay Ice’s head coach, along with Misha Donskov from the OHL’s London Knights. Ducharme is the new GM/head coach with the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs following five seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads.
The Warriors have sent 19 players to the world juniors, including seven who went twice, to represent four different countries. Yet, this is the first time a current Warriors coach has been part of a staff for the tournament.
“We’re thrilled and honoured that Tim is doing this as a Moose Jaw Warrior and representing our club and our city,” Warriors general manager Alan Millar said.
“It’s a very special day for Tim and his family and for the hockey club as well.
“It’s another indication of where we want to be. I’ve always said your team is going to be better if you’re short-staffed at the beginning of the season when you have players are at NHL camps and at Christmas when you have coaches and players at the world juniors. We’re getting there.”
Hunter is entering his third season behind the bench for the Warriors. He spent 1,089 games as an assistant coach in the NHL following his 18-year professional career as a player. Hunter coached Canada’s under-18 team to a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF world under-18 championship.
Hunter will be gone from Dec. 15 to the first week of January. Warriors assistant coach Mark O’Leary will take over during Hunter’s absence. Goaltending coach Jamie Hodson and skills development coach Scott King will also be available while Hunter is gone.