When you think about junior hockey success in Canada, it’s the Hunter brothers who come to mind.
So, perhaps it’s no surprise that Hockey Canada has turned to Dale and Mark Hunter, fresh off winning their third Memorial Cup with the London Knights, to take the reins for the next world junior men’s hockey championship.
“To represent your country and to coach Team Canada is an honour,” Dale Hunter told the Star in a phone interview on Thursday. “And it’s a challenge. Teams have narrowed the gap ... I like a good challenge.”
With Dale as coach and Mark joining the management team, Canada won world junior gold in 2020 in the Czech Republic. The Canadians won again in 2022 and 2023, but finished fifth in 2024 and 2025 at the Christmas season tournament where anything less that a championship seems to disappoint this hockey-loving nation. Given that players are 18 and 19 years old, the pressure can seem unfair.
“It is pressure on the kids, but you have to take the pressure off them, enjoy the moment, enjoy the game. Sometimes you get too keyed up. You’ve got to be calm and relaxed, and play the game you’re used to playing all year.”
The Hunters and ex-NHLer Basil McRae bought the Knights in 2000. Dale has been coach for most of that time, with Mark as general manager and chief scout. The Knights became one of the biggest, most important franchises in the junior game and have supplied a steady stream of high-end players to the NHL: from Corey Perry (2003 champion) to Mitch Marner (2015) to — Leafs fans hope — Easton Cowan (this year).
Dale coached Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in 2011-12 and Mark was assistant GM of the Maple Leafs from 2014-18, but both have been known more for their junior hockey record since their playing days.
“Maybe because we’re old; we’ve been around a long time,” said Dale. “We’ve had some good players come through here and we’re proud of them. Whoever played for us, they played for the crest, which is important. Just like Team Canada, they have to play for the crest. It’s more important than the individual if you want to win a championship.”
The Hunters also had long NHL careers on the ice. Mark won a Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1988, and both played a rugged style: Mark with 1,426 penalty minutes in 628 games, Dale with 3,565 minutes (second to Tiger Williams on the all-time list) in 1,407 games.
Despite that reputation, they value speed, skill and hockey sense in team building.
“I coached (world juniors) once before and we went with a skilled team, and fast,” said Dale Hunter. “Skating is a huge thing. Play fast, with skill.”
The tournament will start on Boxing Day in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., with games at the Xcel Energy Center (home of the Minnesota Wild) and 3M Arena at Mariucci (at the University of Minnesota).
The Canadian junior team — led by defenceman Matthew Schaefer, drafted No. 1 by the New York Islanders — will play against Finland, Sweden and the United States at a summer showcase with games starting July 27 in Minneapolis.
The Hunters were selected by Hockey Canada’s newly appointed Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar and Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, with input from director of hockey operations Benoit Roy.
“Dale’s resumé speaks for itself: three Memorial Cups, three OHL coach of the year awards and two international gold medals,” Millar said in a press release. “His passion for this program runs deep, and we feel he is the best candidate to lead us to a gold medal in Minnesota.”
Mark Hunter will assist Millar, Salmond and Roy with operations matters, including player evaluation and selection.
“Mark led Canada to a world juniors gold medal in 2020 and has built one of the premier franchises in the Canadian Hockey League, with unparalleled on-ice success and player advancement,” said Salmond.
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