Baumgartner named head coach of Canada's U-18 team

Hockey Canada announced Thursday that Nolan Baumgartner has been named head coach of Canada’s World Men’s Under-18 team that will begin play in Germany next week.

Joining him behind the bench will be assistants Kori Cheverie, Todd Miller, David Struch and David Struchalong with goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood.

“We are excited to unveil the coaching staff that will lead Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team as it looks to defend last year’s gold medal,” said Hockey Senior VP of Hockey Operations Scott Salmond in a statement. “We are fortunate to have a diverse and experienced coaching staff that includes Nolan’s NHL and Olympic experience, Kori’s gold medal pedigree with Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team and National Women’s Under-18 Team, veteran CHL experience from both Todd and David, and Brad’s extensive background at the U SPORTS, WHL and Olympic levels.”

Baumgartner most recently served as an assistant coach with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

He also spent parts of four seasons as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks (2017-21), and was an assistant coach in the American Hockey League for five seasons with the Chicago Wolves (2012-13) and Utica Comets (2013-17). As a player, Baumgartner had a 16-year professional career in the NHL and AHL, amassing 390 points in 878 career AHL games. He also won back-to-back Memorial Cups with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 1994 and 1995, and won gold medals with Canada’s National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 1995 and 1996, serving as captain in his second year.

Cheverie becomes the first woman to serve as a coach with one of Canada’s men’s national teams. She most recently served as an