Joe Thornton and Brad Pascall are back as co-general managers for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup.
Hockey Canada announced Thursday the pair will assemble their roster for the tournament taking place in December in Davos, Switzerland.
Hnat Domenichelli also returns as assistant general manager.
“Brad, Joe and Hnat brought tremendous leadership and experience to our group last year and we are thrilled to have them return and build upon last season,” Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior vice president of high performance and hockey operations, said in a statement. “Each bring their own knowledge having represented Canada on multiple occasions and in varying roles.
"They know what it takes to win in short-term competition and we know they will assemble a team that will proudly wear the Maple Leaf in its quest to win the Spengler Cup.”
Thornton made his international management debut at last year's Spengler Cup, when Canada lost 4-3 to Czech squad HC Dynamo Pardubice in the semifinals.
He ended his 25-year professional playing career after the 2021-22 NHL season and finished with 1,539 points in 1,714 games with Boston, San Jose, Toronto and Florida.
His international career includes gold with Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and a Spengler Cup title in 2004 while playing for the tournament host team, Switzerland's HC Davos.
Pascall is currently in his 11th season as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames, and his second as vice-president of hockey operations.
Domenichelli has served as general manager of HC Lugano in Switzerland since 2019. As a player, he had an 18-year professional career that included 922 games in the NHL, American Hockey League and Switzerland's National League.
The Spengler Cup runs Dec. 26-31 in Davos. The hosts are the defending champions.
Canada and Davos are tied for the most Spengler Cup titles with 16, though Canada hasn't won since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
-- With files from the Canadian Press
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