Babcock To Coach Canadian Team

Spokane Chiefs coach Mike Babcock has been named coach of Canada’s national junior hockey team, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday.

Babcock, 33, will coach the 1997 team when it plays in the World Junior Championship at Switzerland.

“This is a tremendous opportunity,” said Babcock, who will continue to coach the Western Hockey League Chiefs.

“The national junior team is a quality program and a lot of people who have been involved along the way have benefited as coaches and people.”

Babcock has spent three seasons in the WHL, including the last two with Spokane. Before that, he coached the University of Lethbridge and Red Deer College.

Last season, Babcock guided the Chiefs to the best record in the WHL Western Division, and Spokane was the top-ranked junior hockey club at the end of the regular season.

“Mike has helped establish a winning tradition here in Spokane,” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said, “and when he returns from Switzerland, his experience at the World Junior Tournament will make him an even better coach.”

Canada’s national junior team has won four straight gold medals. Under Babcock, it will take on the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland and the U.S. in round-robin play. Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and Russia meet in the other group.

The junior team holds its evaluation camp for more than 40 players from Aug. 2-8 in Calgary. Babcock will reassemble his team for a Dec. 13-18 selection camp in Ontario. The final roster of 22 players will take part in a pre-competition camp Dec. 19-25 before heading to Geneva for the world championships that run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4.

Also Wednesday, the CHL said Mike Pelino will coach the national under-18 team. Pelino is coach at Brook University in Ontario. Babcock served as an assistant for last year’s under-18 team.

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