Photo credit: RocketFAN

By Regan Bartel

Rockets HC promoted to top spot at U18s

Kris Mallette called by Hockey Canada – again!

Jul 12, 2024 | 2:49 PM

Hockey Canada has named the coaching and support staff that will lead Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team in defense of its gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

After helping lead Canada to back-to-back gold medals as an assistant coach at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Kris Mallette returns to Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team for the third consecutive year, this time serving as head coach.

Mallette will be joined on the bench by goaltending consultant Dan De Palma, who represents the Kamloops Blazers.

“We are excited to unveil the coaching and support staff that will lead our National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team as we look to defend our gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said Benoit Roy, senior manager of hockey operations. “Kris and his coaches bring extensive experience both at the international and Canadian Hockey League levels, and they will be great leaders for this talented group of young men who will compete for Canada in Edmonton next month.”

Regan’s Take: Another significant resume builder for Mallette, who has steadily moved up the ladder in Hockey Canada’s hierarchy. Much like his approach in attaining a head coaching position at the WHL level, Mallette has taken the slow but steady road at other high-profile events. Hockey Canada doesn’t take the selecting of their coaches lightly, proving once again that Mallette is considered one of the top bench-bosses in major junior hockey. Watch carefully at his promotion to the world junior team in the near future.

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Mallette has served as head coach of the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the past five seasons (2019-24) after six seasons (2013-19) as an assistant, winning a WHL championship and helping the Rockets reach the Memorial Cup final in 2015. Internationally, in addition to his two Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medals, he also won silver as head coach of Canada Red at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

The roster for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp will be announced at a later date.

Canada will open the preliminary round at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Switzerland on Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m. MT/9:30 p.m. ET. It will also take on Slovakia and Sweden on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, respectively, before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 10.