Battalion Coach Ryan Oulahen has been named the Head Coach of Team Canada at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The top eight under-18 teams from around the world will compete Aug. 3-8, in Edmonton.
“I am extremely honoured to lead Team Canada at this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton,” says Oulahen. “It is very special to be able to represent Canada and to work with our countries best available players for this age group.”
He was an assistant at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup when Canada last won gold.
Training camp ahead of the tournament takes place July 27-30, also in Edmonton.
Meantime, the exhibition schedule has been announced for the North Bay Battalion.
After stops in Brampton on Aug. 30 and Owen Sound on Sept. 2, the Troops host Sudbury on Sunday, Sept. 6 then Owen Sound on Saturday, Sept. 12.
North Bay’s regular season starts Sept. 18 at home to Barrie.
Still with hockey, the Powassan Voodoos have signed Battalion prospect and U16 AAA Trappers forward Aidan Duchesne.
He had 12 goals and 22 assists in 29 games last year, after his season was cut short by a shoulder injury.
“I grew up watching the Voodoos, and now I will be playing for them, so it’s pretty special,” says Duchesne. “I consider myself a playmaker; I take a lot of pride in setting my teammates up, and I am a player that will come out every day and give 110 per cent, and I will do what I can to help the team win.”
Chris Dawson, Voodoos general manager, says Duchesne is a very talented young local player.
“We have let a few young local players get away from us in the past, but we don’t want to make that mistake with Aidan,” says Dawson. “He’s a very smart hockey player and despite being undersized, he makes things happen every time he has the puck on his stick, and we believe that will translate to the NOJHL this fall.”
Voodoos training camp starts on August 20.
