Hockey Canada head coach Misha Donskov has been in a variety of roles with the organization, spanning from the World Juniors to the most recent Olympics in Italy, but this year he had the experience of being a head coach for the first time.
Donskov took the reins as head coach of Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in the spring, leading the senior men’s team to a fourth-place finish.
The tournament notably featured San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini, who earned the captaincy at 19 and went on to scored six goals with 14 points in 10 games.
Donskov also got to experience the impact of Celebrini at the Olympics as an assistant coach, where the young star had a breakout tournament with 10 points in six games in a silver-medal finish.
“Special, special player,” said Donskov of Celebrini. “Touched by the hand of God in terms of his ability and his skill. World-class human being. I got to see him up close and personal obviously at the Olympic Games and then to be the head coach of the most recent World Championship team and work with Mack, shoulder to shoulder.
“He’s special. I think he’s a generational talent, I really do. He’s got an ability to impact the game every time he jumps over the boards. He makes players around him better, he drags players into the fight. He’s got a palpable energy to him.”
Donskov will continue his work with Canada’s next generation of stars in December as the head coach of the 2027 World Junior team.
Canada is looking for its first gold medal since 2023. Last year’s team earned bronze after crashing out in the quarter-finals in 2024 and 2025.
Donskov will be joined by four assistants, including former Anaheim Ducks star Ryan Getzlaf, who is set to make his international coaching debut.
Getzlaf, 41, retired in 2022 after 17 seasons with the Ducks. In 1,157 career games, Getzlaf scored 282 goals with 1,019 points, winning a Stanley Cup in 2007.
Internationally, the Regina native won U18, World Junior and World Cup of Hockey titles as well as two Olympic gold medals.
Donskov and Getzlaf previously worked together with Hockey Canada during the 4 Nations Face-off in February in 2025 as well as the Olympics.
“I think with all of Getzy’s experience, both on the management side with Hockey Canada and all the experience he’s had as a captain, a leader in the National Hockey League, his leadership, his presence, I think he’s going to be a tremendous asset to our coaching staff,” said Donskov.
“He’ll be able to connect with today’s generation of players in the role we have him in. He’ll be working one-on-one with our players, specifically our centre icemen on face-offs, working one-on-one in individual player development, helping be the conduit between our coaching staff and the players, management group.”
