McFARLAND NAMED U-18 HEAD COACH
Former Pickering Panther Paul McFarland (pictured 2013-14 with the Oshawa Generals - photo credit: Terry Wilson/OHL Images) has been named the head coach of Team Canada's summer Under-18 Team that will compete at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, while former Milton Merchant and Georgetown Raider Mark French has been named one of his assistant coaches for the event.
The native of Richmond Hill, Ontario joined the Panthers as a 15-year old in 2001-02 after having being selected by the Kitchener Rangers in the 10th round, 184th overall, of the 2001 OHL Priority Selection. The rookie forward posted a respectable 13 goals and 38 points in 48 regular season games played and would make the jump to the OHL full-time in 2002-03, winning an OHL and Memorial Cup title with the Rangers.
Congratulations to Paul & Mark on the appointments and best of luck overseas this summer!
Below is the official press release from the Hockey Canada website (www.hockeycanada.ca):
The coaching staffs for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team and Canada’s national men’s under-17 teams have been selected.
Paul McFarland (Richmond Hill, Ont./Kingston, OHL) will serve as head coach for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, while Mark French (Milton, Ont./Calgary, WHL) and Darren Rumble (Barrie, Ont./Moncton, QMJHL) join McFarland as assistant coaches for the summer selection camp and the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
On the under-17 side, Paul Boutilier (Sydney, N.S./Saint John, QMJHL) will serve as head coach for Team Canada Black, Brent Kisio (Calgary/Lethbridge, WHL) will head Team Canada White, while Rocky Thompson (Calgary/Windsor, OHL) will lead Team Canada Red at Canada’s national under-17 development camp and at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Chris Dennis (Toronto/York University, OUA) and David Struch (Flin Flon, Man./Regina, WHL) will serve as assistants for Team Canada Black, Jamie Heward (Regina, Sask./Swift Current, WHL) and Daniel Jacob (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL) will join Kisio as assistant coaches for Team Canada White, while Mitch Love (Quesnel, B.C./Everett, WHL) and Ryan Marsh (Quesnel, B.C./Edmonton, WHL) will join Thompson on Team Canada Red.
“This is an exciting group of coaches that have been chosen to lead our National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team and under-17 programs as they aim to re-create the success these teams generated last season,” said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams with Hockey Canada. “These coaches have found success at many different levels in the game and bring a magnitude of experience to our programs that will help develop the top young talent in our country.”
Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team
McFarland served as an assistant coach with Team Canada Red at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and has been the head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs for the past two seasons. Prior to joining the Frontenacs, he was an assistant coach with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals from 2012-14. McFarland played four seasons of junior hockey with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and Windsor Spitfires from 2002-06. He also spent four seasons playing university hockey with Acadia University and served as captain from 2007-10.
French has been the head coach of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen for the past two seasons. Prior to leading the Hitmen, he was head coach the KHL’s Medvescak Zagreb during the 2013-14 season and led the AHL’s Hershey Bears from 2009-13. French spent three seasons as head coach of the CHL’s Wichita Thunder from 2005-08 and also served as head coach for Wilfrid Laurier University (OUA) from 2002-04. He also served as the assistant coach and general manager for the OHL’s North Bay Centennials from 1999-2002.
Hockey Canada’s National Teams’ Summer Showcase will be held July 26 to Aug. 2 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada's director of player personnel, will lead player selection for the camp and camp invites will be announced in the coming weeks for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp and Canada’s national under-17 development camp.
