Andre Tourigny joins Team Canada coaching staffs for IIHF worlds, Olympics & World Juniors 2021-22 Season

Hockey Canada has announced that André Tourigny (Nicolet, Que.) Has been formally hired on a yearlong contract and is a part of Team Canada coaching staffs at four important upcoming international tournaments.

He will return as head coach in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., also will function as head coach at the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland.

Tourigny will remain with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and go back to the club full-time after he's fulfilled his role with Hockey Canada. Tourigny becomes the first full-time trainer with the men's program since Marc Habscheid at 2005.

"We are very excited to welcome André Tourigny to Hockey Canada as a full-time trainer for its 2021-22 year, because his extensive hockey pedigree makes him a vital asset to our national organizations," explained Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada. "André's knowledge, insight and worldwide expertise will be a critical factor in encouraging our Olympic preparation as well as leading Canada's National Junior Team for the second consecutive year at the IIHF World Junior Championship. André will even lead to our work with our NextGen players and coaches through his participation with our development applications. We're grateful to the Canadian Hockey League and the Ottawa 67's to their support releasing André to Hockey Canada for second season."

Tourigny took the reins as head coach of Canada's National Junior Team in 2020, making a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. He previously won a gold medal as an assistant trainer in the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, along with silver as a helper in 2010 and 2011. The reigning CHL Coach of the Year has functioned as head coach and vice-president of hockey operations together with the 67's for its previous four seasons (2017-21), winning the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL coach of the year at 2018-19 and 2019-20. He also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2013-15) and Ottawa Senators (2015-16) at the National Hockey League. Besides his four appearances at the World Juniors, Tourigny headed Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team to a gold medal as head trainer at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won gold as an assistant at the 2008 Museum of Ivan Hlinka championship.

"It is an honour and privilege to be trusted to function within the coaching staff for four prestigious occasions like worlds, World Juniors and Olympics," said Tourigny. "I want to thank folks Canada for the incredible chance, and I look forward to implementing strategies for a successful year ahead. It's not a simple choice to take away time in the Ottawa 67's household and I am extremely grateful to this Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group possession in addition to the whole hockey operations and front office staff for affording me this chance."

'It's Good to be Back': Blackhawks Center Dach has no Regrets about Playing in World Juniors

No huge deal. So when can I get back out there?

People were just two of the first ideas Blackhawks ahead Kirby Dach had in the minutes after he ran into a Russian participant during a World Junior Championship display game last December.

Following impact, Dach instantly removed his glove, hunched over a little and retreated to the dressing room.

But this was not at all of the case.

"If it first occurs, you sort of just go back," Dach said Wednesday after skating with an Hawks' taxi squad in Dallas. "I did not even know if it was my wrist. ... You kind of look at the doc and just tell him essentially,'Repair this so that I can head out there next shift and keep playing'

"Once I really looked at it and took another glancethere was clearly something quite wrong with it. The physicians form of busy around me and I figured something out from that point.

By then Dach understood surgery was necessary for his fractured wrist which he would need months to rehabilitation. But with the season halfway over, there is a light at the end of the tunnel as Dach has been in a position to get involved in drills with some mates.

Total contact practices are a long way off, however, and a return to game action doesn't seem likely until mid-April. A four- to five-month time frame was given following the Dec. 28 operation. "It has been a long time arriving " When you confront hardship you're able to let it get the best of you or you can fight it and come back stronger. That is his attention."

Although the Hawks are off to a surprising 13-9-5 beginning, there's very little doubt they still miss Dach. The up-and-coming center would be playing an important role as a top-six center, and he'd be about the power play and the penalty kill also.

Still, the 20-year-old doesn't have regrets regarding representing Canada in among this year's most prestigious championships.

"It is the game of baseball. I could have gotten hurt in the summer skating with my buddies," explained Dach, who was called the team's captain. "I guess (I Had ) state a thank-you to Stan (Bowman) along with the management group and everyone that was involved in that choice to let me go play. They did not have to.

"As a kid that you grow up dreaming about playing for this group, and it is better for you to wear the'C.'"

Dach is functioning on the mobility and strength in his wrist, making sure to carry"all the correct steps to return to 100 percent." He is also getting into shape and attempting to become fully convinced in his stride on the ice.

Although the harm will cost him most of the year, Dach is pleased for the help he's received from the Hawks' medical team, trainers, friends and teammates -- notably Brent Seabrook, who had been among the first folks to reach out following the injury happened.

"Brent was a massive influence on my career and my life so far," explained Dach, that has been residing with Seabrook's family since last year's training camp. "He is sort of like another dad to me and taught me so much away from the rink. I can not thank him (wife) Dayna along with three children Carter, Kenzie and Dylan enough for letting me live together and become a part of their loved ones. ...

"The person he's away from the rink, what he does, as a young guy you can observe how he brings the group together. He's that loud voice which brings a team up. We're going to miss him. I understand I will miss him a lot.

"In precisely the exact same time we remain in contact quite a bit. That is somebody that's always been in my corner"