Dave Cameron.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Dave Cameron has a big hockey season ahead of him.

Not only will he coach his Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the Memorial Cup next May, Cameron has been named Canada's head coach for the 2011 world junior championship in Buffalo starting Dec. 26.

Hockey Canada has tasked the 51-year-old from Kincora, P.E.I., with trying to reclaim the gold medal. The country's run of five straight golds ran out in January in Saskatoon, where Canada lost the championship game in overtime to the U.S.

"It's a challenge and I'm looking forward to that challenge knowing full well the tournament is generally is going to come down to one or two key plays in key games," Cameron said Monday. "We have to be able to execute those plays and let the chips fall where they may."

Cameron was an assistant coach to Pat Quinn in Ottawa last year when Canada won its fifth straight title, and he was an assistant to Willie Desjardins this year in Saskatoon.

His coaching staff in Buffalo will include Bob Boughner of the Windsor Spitfires, Ryan Huska of the Kamloops Blazers and Andre Tourigny of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

"We believe we're going to be able to put together a club that's going to be competitive, and it's a matter then of being able to execute at certain times during the tournament that will determine how well we do," Cameron said.

"If you look at international hockey, whether it's at this level, the under-18 level, the world championship and even the Olympics for that matter, it's not a divine right that Canada is going to win anymore.

"You have to play a certain way and have a little bit of luck."

He's coached the Ontario Hockey League's Majors for a combined seven seasons with a three-year run as head coach of the AHL's Binghamton Senators sandwiched in between stints with the Majors.

Cameron's record the past three seasons in Mississauga was 112-78-7-7, and his post-season record was 16-6. He also coached the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for two seasons in 1997 and 1998.

The Majors are the host of the 2011 Memorial Cup. Cameron is prepared for the demands of both tournaments.

"I have a great staff in Mississauga to look after things while I'm away at the world juniors," Cameron said. "I have great support from Eugene Melnyk, my owner, (and) I have great support from Hockey Canada.

"The fact it's in Buffalo and I coach in Mississauga, it's almost in my own backyard. That certainly was a factor, not that I would turn down a trip to Europe by any means. But logistically this year, that was a bonus."

Cameron will draw the Canadian team from the country's pool of players born in 1991 or later.

The five players from this year's squad eligible to play for Canada again are defencemen Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires, Jared Cowen of the Spokane Chiefs, Calvin de Haan of the Oshawa Generals, forward Taylor Hall of the Spitfires and Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Hockey Canada will name a roster for the Canadian junior team's summer camp later this week, Cameron said. About 45 players will be invited by Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray in consultation with Cameron and his assistants.