Hockey Canada has officially named Misha Donskov as the head coach for the country's National Men's Team and National Junior Team, marking his international head coaching debut at the upcoming 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship.

Donskov's expanded role, announced Saturday, will see him report directly to Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. The 2026 tournament is set to take place from May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, with Canada aiming to capture its first gold medal at the event since 2023.

"Misha is an integral member of our hockey operations staff, and his contributions to successful teams at Hockey Canada over the years, as well as his NHL and OHL coaching and front office experience make him the perfect fit to lead our National Men's Team and National Junior Team as head coach starting next month," Salmond said in a statement. "Misha is a world-class coach, and we are fortunate to have him building the coaching and support staffs that will put us in a position to win multiple gold medals at two of the marquee events on the international hockey calendar."

Donskov's leadership won't stop in Switzerland. He is also slated to guide Canada at the 2027 edition of the Men's World Championship in Düsseldorf and Mannheim, Germany, as well as take the reins for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship. For fans of the game, this appointment signals a strong commitment to building a winning culture on the international stage—a perfect time to gear up in your favorite Team Canada apparel and show your support from the stands or at home.