After two consecutive disappointing fifth-place finishes at the World Junior Championships, where they lost to Czechia in the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025, Hockey Canada needs to regain its dominance at the junior stage.
Before commencing their summer showcase camp later this month, the first step was to appoint a head coach for the 2026 tournament. Who better to lead the team back to the top than one of major junior hockey’s most decorated coaches?
London Knights Head Coach and President Dale Hunter has been named Canada’s Head Coach for the 2026 World Junior Championship. His brother, London Knights GM Mark Hunter, will also be a part of the management group.
The Knights were the best team in major junior hockey in Canada, with many thanks from their coach.
Hunter ensures his players play a detailed, structured style of gameplay, one that is characterized by a high level of physicality and assertiveness. London has won back-to-back OHL Championships. After losing in the finals of the 2024 Memorial Cup tournament, the team got their redemption, and beat Gavin McKenna’s Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 in the finals to take home the 2025 Memorial Cup.
Another successful OHL campaign is in the books for Dale Hunter, who now has five OHL Championships and three Memorial Cup rings as a head coach. Additionally, he became the most winningest coach in Memorial Cup history this past spring.
Dale Hunter Becomes Winningest Coach In Memorial Cup History
Dale Hunter is one of the most accomplished coaches in the CHL. In terms of former and current CHL coaches, you'd be hard pressed to find a record that can stand toe to toe with Hunter's.
Hunter has experience behind the bench as the head honcho for Canada at the World Juniors. He coached the team to a gold medal victory in 2020. Canada roared back in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals to beat Russia 4-3. Akil Thomas was the hero with less than five minutes to play in regulation with a beautiful backhand finish.
Canada needed to find the best coach possible to lead their country into battle on enemy soil. The 2026 tournament will be played in Minnesota, and you know the American fans will be cheering for Canada’s downfall all tournament long.
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