Crickard heading to U17 World Challenge

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard will once again step behind the Team Canada bench this fall.

On Friday, Crickard was named the head coach of Team Canada Red for this year's U17 World Challenge, which will be held Nov. 1-9 in Sarnia.

From the Hockey Canada news release:

Crickard recently finished his second season as head coach of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs following one season as an assistant. He won a gold medal as an assistant coach 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.

Crickard's assistant coaches will be Matt Anholt of the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes and Wes Wolfe of the OHL's Erie Otters.

Crickard will miss, at minimum, six Sea Dogs games while taking part in the event, including a three-in-three Quebec road trip.

Hockey Canada also announced the coaching staff for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Friday, which will take place in Edmonton next month. Former Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer will be an assistant coach.