Team Canada general manager Mark Messier has added to his coaching staff for the IIHF World Hockey Championship on Tuesday as Florida Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer and Edmonton Oilers pro scout Billy Moores will join Craig MacTavish behind Canada's bench as assistants.
"One of my priorities in putting together this coaching staff was to find individuals that shared a common philosophy and will be able to instill that philosophy in the players as quickly as possible," said Messier in a statement. "In a short tournament, synergy will play an important role with our staff. All three are proven winners, and I am very happy they have committed to the challenge."
As well as coaching the Panthers for the past two seasons, DeBoer led the OHL's Kitchener Rangers to the Memorial Cup and coached with Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence on three occasions.
Moores served as an assistant under MacTavish with the Oilers for nine seasons.
"I am really looking forward to working with Peter and Billy in Germany," said MacTavish in a statement. "It has been a great season so far for Canadian hockey and we look forward to the challenge of going for gold at the World Championship."
Messier and Team Canada's management staff will complete the roster once the first round of the NHL playoffs come to an end. Canada's first game is on May 8 vs. Italy, and an official roster does not have to be submitted to the IIHF until May 7.
"We are fortunate this year that there is almost a three-week break between the end of the NHL season and the team getting together in Germany for the World Championship," Messier said. "This will give the players not involved in the playoffs a great opportunity to rest prior to representing Canada at the Worlds. This has not always been the case in the past."
On Monday, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis reportedly declined an invitation, howerver both Steven Stamkos and Steve Downie expressed an interest in being part of the team.
