THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY — Brent Sutter wasn’t out of work for long.
The former Calgary Flames head coach was named Canada’s head coach for the world hockey championships on Friday, a day after parting ways with the NHL team.
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher, and Kirk Muller, head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, will be Sutter’s assistants.
"This is a coaching staff that has a great deal of professional and international experience," Team Canada general manager Kevin Lowe said in a statement. "Brent, Guy and Kirk are all looking forward to working with the 17 players we have named and leading this group to success in Helsinki."
Canada’s front office includes Lowe, and assistant general managers Peter Chiarelli, Dave Nonis and Brad Pascall.
Flames GM Jay Feaster announced on Thursday that Sutter and the NHL club had agreed to not renew his contract when it expired at the end of June.
Calgary narrowly missed the playoffs in all three seasons under Sutter, compiling a 118-90-38 record overall.
Sutter will now turn his attention to the international tournament May 4 to 20th in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden.
Canada will play all its games in Helsinki, and opens against Slovakia on May 4.
Sutter has coached Canada in international competition before, leading Canada to gold at the 2005 and 2006 IIHF world junior championships. He also led Canada to a 7-0-1 record at the 2006 Canada-Russia Super Series, which featured both countries’ national junior programs.
Boucher was an assistant coach at the 2009 world juniors, where Canada won a gold medal, and an assistant coach with the Canadian team that won gold at the 2008 IIHF world men’s under-18 championship.
He also coached Canada’s under-18 team at the 2006 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka, finishing fourth.
Muller was an assistant coach at the 2006 IIHF world men’s under-18 championship, where Canada finished fourth. He was also an assistant coach with the Canadian men’s team that won bronze at the 2005 Lotto Cup.
