Cambridge/Ottawa/Thunder Bay, ON – Hockey Eastern Ontario, Hockey Northwestern Ontario and the Ontario Hockey Federation are excited to announce the opportunity for coaches and support staff to apply for a position on Team Ontario for the 2019 Canada Winter Games taking place February 15 until February 22, 2019 in Red Deer, AB.

Held every four years, the Canada Winter Games showcases the top under-16 hockey talent in the country that sees one province or territory emerge as the best in the Nation.

Applications for all coaching and support staff positions within Team Ontario have now opened. Interested and qualified personnel have until June 15, 2018 to apply, applications for all positions can be found here: coach applications and support staff applications. 

“The 2019 Winter Games is an exciting event and one of the most important steps is finding a qualified and knowledgeable coaching staff that will lead the players,” said Michael Kompon, technical and marketing director of Hockey Northwestern Ontario. “Team Ontario is looking for experienced individuals who are great communicators that have a passion to teach the game of hockey.”

As a coach of Team Ontario, selected candidates will be joining a long list of recognized alumni including Drew Bannister, head coach in the 2015 Games. Following his term with Team Ontario, Bannister continued on to a very successful career as head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he was most recently named Coach of the Year in both the OHL and Canadian Hockey Leagues for the 2017-18 season.

"The Canada Winter Games gives a very unique experience to players, coaches and support staff. HEO is excited to be working collectively with its Ontario Branch Partner's to select a quality high performance staff to lead Ontario to a Gold Medal,” said Jeff Baker, manager of hockey operations for Hockey Eastern Ontario.

Players will be evaluated throughout the start of the 2018-19 season and will be named to the team in January. Prior to departing for the tournament, a mini-camp will take place with all players and coaches.

“Ontario has a decorated medal record at the Canada Winter Games, while historically credit is well spread throughout all aspects of the team – it all starts with quality leadership,” said Tony Foresi, president of the OHF.

Team Ontario is the defending champion from the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC, having defeated Team Alberta in the Gold Medal Game. This team included current OHL standouts Nick Suzuki, Owen Tippett and Michael DiPietro. Team Ontario has earned five gold medals, one silver medals and two bronze medals in the last 13 Canadian Winter Games.

About the 2019 Canada Winter Games - From February 15 until March 3, 2019, the eyes of the nation will be on Red Deer, Alberta as they host the 2019 Canada Winter Games - the largest multi-sport and cultural event for youth in Canada and the largest event to be hosted in Red Deer’s history. Featuring over 150 events in 19 sports and a major arts and cultural festival, the 2019 Canada Winter Games will welcome up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 100,000 spectators, with a forecasted economic impact of over $132 million. The 27th edition of the Canada Games, the 2019 Games is set to provide a stage for Canada’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions to compete and will leave a legacy for athletic and leadership greatness in Red Deer. For more information on the 2019 Games, please visit: canadagames.ca/2019.

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