Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong has selected the coaching staff for the upcoming World Hockey Championship in Switzerland.
Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff will lead Canada's coaching staff and his assistants will be Nashville Predators' Barry Trotz and Dallas Stars' Dave Tippett.
"As a management group, we are very pleased with the coaching staff that we have been able to assemble," said Armstrong in a media release. "This coaching staff brings great professional and international experience that will serve us well as we strive to win a gold medal in Switzerland."
"In one sense, it's an opportunity that you hope you don't have very often," Ruff told the Canadian Press on Sunday. "In another sense, when you don't make (the playoffs), to be involved is a tremendous honour. And I look at it that way. I'm going to relish every minute of this along with our other coaches."
Canada will also name the majority of its roster as early as Monday, holding three spots open for players eliminated from the NHL playoffs after the first round.
Depending on who's available after round one, sources tell TSN Canada hopes to name a forward, a defenceman and a goaltender from a list of opening round casualties that is sure to be very strong.
Ruff will be making his international debut, he has never coached or played for Canada. Trotz was an assistant coach with Canada at the 2003 World Championship and although Tippett has never coached internationally, he played in two Olympics - 1984 and 1992 (silver). Over the two tournaments he had two goals and three assists, with 12 penalty minutes in 14 games.