Hurricanes coaches added to Canada’s U18 IIHF Championship roster

Hockey Canada has named two Lethbridge Hurricanes coaches as part of their coaching staff for the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Hurricanes Head Coach Matt Anholt will serve as Assistant Coach, making it the third time he’ll represent Canada at some level. He has previously represented Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2024 and 2025 serving as an Assistant Coach in both tournaments. In 2025, Anholt helped lead Canada Red to a Silver medal in Truro, Nova Scotia. He has been part of the Hurricanes coaching staff for the past eight years and served as head coach for the first time last season.

Canes Assistance Coach Ryan Aasman will serve as Team Canada’s Video Coach, a role he similarly worked for with Canada Red at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Langley, British Columbia, where he captured a Silver medal.

“We are incredibly proud of both Matt and Ryan and know that they will not only contribute to Canada’s success, but also return with invaluable experience, knowledge and perspective that will have a direct and lasting impact on the continued growth and development of the Lethbridge Hurricanes,” said Hurricanes Interim General Manager Barclay Parneta.

This year’s IIHF World Under-18 Championships will be hosted by Trencin and Bratislava, Slovakia and will begin on April 22nd, and continue running until May 2nd.