Hockey Canada is expected to announce Sean Burke as general manager and Willie Desjardins as head coach for the 2018 Olympic team on Tuesday, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon.
Desjardins spent the last three seasons as coach of the Vancouver Canucks before being dismissed in April after missing the playoffs for the second straight season. The Canucks posted a record of 109-110-27 under Desjardins.
A former WHL and AHL coach, Desjardins was the Canadian world junior team bench boss in 2010 and earned a silver medal.
As a goaltender, Burke played 18 seasons in the NHL before retiring after the 2006-07 season. He played for Canada at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics — winning a silver medal in the latter Games — before NHL players were eligible to participate.
Burke has long been tabbed by Hockey Canada for the position in the event that NHL players weren’t going to the Olympics. Burke led Canadian teams this past season at the Deutschland and Spengler Cups and was on the leadership team at men’s world championship.
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