By Canadian Press

Evason named Canada coach, Huska among assistants for world hockey championship

Apr 30, 2025 | 11:27 AM

CALGARY — Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason will lead Canada’s staff at the upcoming world hockey championship.

Hockey Canada announced Canada’s coaching staff for the tournament on Wednesday. Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska will serve as an assistant, along with Nashville head coach Andrew Brunette and Blue Jackets assistant Steve McCarthy.

The world championship is set for May 9-25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark. Canada opens May 10 against Slovenia in Stockholm.

Evason was an assistant coach on Canada’s fourth-place team at the 2024 world championship.

He recently finished his first season as Columbus head coach. The Blue Jackets finished the campaign on a six-game winning streak and missed a playoff spot by two points.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Huska led the Flames to a 41-27-14 record in his second season behind the Flames bench. Calgary went 7-1-2 over its last 10 games to finish the season tied with St. Louis at 96 points, but the Blues got the second Western Conference wild-card spot through a tiebreaker.

He served as an assistant with Canada’s team at the 2011 and 2012 world junior championships, winning silver and bronze, respectively.

Brunette and McCarthy will be making their international coaching debuts.

“Dean, Andrew, Ryan and Steve are excellent NHL coaches that bring many years of professional experience and leadership, and we are thrilled that they will lead Team Canada at the 2025 World Championship,” Canada general manager Kyle Dubas said in a release.

“Our coaching staff will also be supported by an elite support staff that has many years of NHL experience, as well as experience at several world championships and Olympics, and we know our entire staff will create an environment for our players to succeed and wear the Maple Leaf with pride in Stockholm and Herning.”

Longtime Hockey Canada video coach James Emery will act as Canada’s director of performance analysis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2025.

The Canadian Press

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.