Crickard named to U18 staff; Chartrand gets camp invite

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard will be representing Team Canada once again.

Hockey Canada announced Saturday that Crickard will be an associate coach for the upcoming 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship. The event takes place April 23 to May 3 in Texas.

From Hockey Canada's news release:

Crickard recently completed his third season as head coach of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs following one season as an assistant. He also spent time with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s (2013-14) and Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets (2014-19). Most recently, he won a silver medal as head coach of Canada Red at the 2024 U17 World Challenge. He also won a gold medal as an assistant with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and as video coach at the same tournament in 2021. Crickard was an assistant coach for Canada’s men’s hockey team at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, finishing fourth, and was video coach (2016) and assistant coach (2017) with Canada Black at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a silver medal in 2016.

Cory Stillman of the OHL's Guelph Storm has been named head coach. He'll work alongside Crickard, assistant coach Mathieu Turcotte of the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and goaltending consultant Dan De Palma of the WHL's Kamloops Blazers.

Hockey Canada will hold a pre-tournament camp in Oakville from April 12-15. The first 18 players to earn camp invites were announced Saturday, a list that includes future Sea Dogs defenseman Cameron Chartrand.

Chartrand, a 2027 Boston College commit, recorded six goals and 46 assists in 54 games with the Bishop Kearney Selects under-16 squad this past season. It was announced on March 12 that Chartrand will join the Sea Dogs for the 2025-26 season.

The 17-year-old defenseman previously played with Team Canada at both the U17 World Challenge and Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Armada defenseman Xavier Villeneuve is the only other QMJHL player to earn an invite so far. More players will be added as teams are eliminated from the CHL playoffs.