Vaughan – The Canadian Ball Hockey Association recently finalized their respective management teams for the Junior Team Canada program competing in Austria in 2010.

Mauro Cugini (Vaughan, ON), will be making his third appearance as a member of management team with Ball Hockey Canada. Cugini who was Canada’s general manager at the past two ISBHF World Championships, leading the team to gold in 2008 and bronze in 2006.

Steve Dockerty (Beeton, ON), will be making his second appearance as a member of management team with Ball Hockey Canada. Dockerty who was Canada’s general manager at inaugural U-16 and U-18 events this past year which both captured gold.

Gary Slavin, (Maple Ridge, BC) will be making his second appearance as a member of the management team with Ball Hockey Canada. Slavin was with the U-18 team as an assistant coach which won gold in 2008. He will work with Dockerty and serve as an assistant GM with the U-16 & 18 teams.

Liza Vendrasco-Aere (Vancouver, BC) was named the Fundraising Co-coordinator and Parent Liaison. This is her second tour as she was the Parent Liaison for the 2008 U-16 & U-18 teams which captured gold.

“Ball Hockey Canada is going to Austria to make all Canadians proud in 2010 and these selected individuals to lead us,” said Domenic Di Gironimo, CBHA President. "We are very fortunate to have this high a calibre of coaching available to our programs, and we are confident their leadership will guide Canada to gold in Austria in 2010."   Dockerty and Slavin worked together in 2008 with the U-18 and have a very good understanding and scouting background to get the U-16 and U-18 teams back to retain gold.

They will work with the head and assistant coaches in putting together Canada’s teams for the 2010 World Championships. Minor Council is also proud to announce the six individuals to the respective staffs. 

The U-20 staff will include, Doug Shaw (Belleville, ON), Jim Armstrong (Vernon, BC) with the U-18 team announcing Ian Poulsen (Edmonton, AL) and Greg St. Amant (Penetanguishene, ON) and rounding out the staff’s are Carlo Carlucci (Tottenham, ON) and Ian Moores (Bay Roberts, NL) for the U-16 squad.

Doug Shaw in 2008, coached the U-18 Junior Team Canada to a World Junior Championship, the U-17 Belleville Bulls to a National Championship and the Bantam Belleville Bulls to a Provincial Championship. Jim Armstrong was an assistant coach with the U-20 Gold medal winning team in 2008.

Ian Poulsen has two National U-19 Gold Championships in 2004 & 2005 with the Edmonton Blues and was an assistant coach with the U-20 team in 2008. Greg St. Amant coached the 2006 U-17 and 2008 U-19 Penetanguishene Blazers to gold medals and this will be his first tour with the National program.

The U-16 staff is comprised of Carlo Carlucci who was an assistant coach for the U-16 World Champions and assistant coach on the Beeton Xtreme Junior Provincial Championship team. He will be joined by Ian Moores who will be in his fifth tour for the national program with three bronze medals in 2002, 2004 and 2006 and leading the boys this past summer with the U-20 World Gold Championship.

Di Gironimo thanked all members of minor council for their time and commitment to the Junior Team Canada program. “This group continues to crystalize the framework for future years, it is these formative years that sets the tone and standard of cooperation necessary to be successful each and every time we take our teams on the world stage.”

He continued, “these staffs are excellent, and have been intelligently designed with forethought on development of coaches, transition from WJC to WJC, and a systematic process for graduation of staff from age level to age level when we find a strong winning formula with any particular age group.”

There are a number of subsequent steps and meetings over the coming months to set in motion Team Canada’s operational plans, team logistics which will include player evaluations and scouting at the provincial level as well as the Western Challenge Cup and Nationals in July.