Hockey Canada announced today that Dennis Williams has been named head coach of the 2023 World Junior Championship team. Williams, who is currently the head coach and general manager of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, replaces Dave Cameron, who stepped down from the position earlier this year.
Williams is no stranger to the World Juniors, having served as an assistant coach on Cameron’s staff for the 2022 tournament, which Canada won. He also has experience coaching at the U18 level, having served as an assistant coach for Canada’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“I’m honored to be named head coach of the 2023 World Junior team,” Williams said in a statement. “It’s an incredible opportunity to represent my country and I’m excited to get started.”
Williams is a native of Stratford, Ontario, and played junior hockey in the OHL with the Oshawa Generals and the Plymouth Whalers. He began his coaching career in the OHL with the Whalers, and has also coached in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs and the Prince George Cougars.
In his six seasons as head coach of the Silvertips, Williams has led the team to three division titles and two conference championships. He has also been named the WHL’s Coach of the Year twice.
Williams will be joined on the 2023 World Junior coaching staff by Stéphane Julien, Brent Kisio, and Alan Letang. Julien is the head coach of the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL, Kisio is the head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL, and Letang is the head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the OHL.
The 2023 World Juniors will be held in Moncton, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, from December 26 to January 5.
