Winning has its advantages and given the upcoming 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup set to get underway in August it’s impressive to hear that a pair of WHL Head Coaches will be behind the bench.
Locally to the surprise of no one in the area Giants Head Coach Michael Dyck was named as the Head Coach of Canada’s Under-18 Team after Dan Lambert departure as he accepted an Assistant Coach with Nashville.
Silvertips bench boss Dennis Williams was previously named as Assistant Coach and will continue to serve in the same role.
When contacted Michael Dyck mentioned “It is a tremendous honour to once again have the opportunity to represent Canada internationally and we are looking forward to starting our preparation for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this weekend.”
With Michael as the Giants Head Coach this past season saw the Giants advance to an impressive Game 7 series against the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL Championship Series.
Dyck was named Western Conference Coach of the Year guiding the Giants to a winning % of .743, which was ironically the second highest in the Giants 18-year history.
Prior to joining the G-men in 2018 he (Dyck) spent three seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Giants from 2002-2005. He also served as a head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes from 2005-2009.
This will mark the 4th time that he (Dyck) has represented Canada on the international stage as he was Head Coach of Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2010 and 2012.
He managed to win Silver with at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games and on the provincial stage he was the bench boss for Alberta managing to win Silver at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Giants GM Barclay Parneta mentioned “It speaks well to the success of the entire Vancouver Giants organization when our staff get called to represent Canada internationally for such prestigious events and“he will do a terrific job representing both the Vancouver Giants and Hockey Canada.”
He will be joined on the coaching staff by Williams who has guided Everett to back-to-back U.S. Division titles.
While in his first year with the club he guided the Silvertips to a Western Conference Championship and their second-ever appearance in the WHL Championship Series.
He was runner-up for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (WHL Coach of the Year) and has coached Canada Black at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
The next while will see over 40 players complete for a spot on Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team during a week-long selection camp that will see 22 players selected to play at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (Aug. 5-10) in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.
Hockey Canada is working looking to fill the U-17 Head Coach position for Team Canada White that sees the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge take place (Nov. 2nd-9th) with games being played in Medicine Hat and Swift Current.
For more information on Hockey Canada, the Program of Excellence or Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca
