CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Friday that Peter DeBoer, GM and head coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, has been named assistant coach of Canada’s 2005 National Junior team. DeBoer replaces Dean Chynoweth who recently accepted the position of GM and head coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos.

Chynoweth felt that he could not continue as assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior team due to his appointment and time commitments with Swift Current that includes being both the General Manager and head coach.

Chynoweth was an assistant coach with Canada’s 2004 National Junior team that captured a silver medal in Finland, and was an assistant coach with Canada’s 2002 Under 18 (August) team that captured a gold medal at the Eight Nations Cup. He was also the head coach of Canada’s Under 18 World Championship team in April, 2004, which finished fourth.

DeBoer will join Team Canada’s head coach, Brent Sutter, and assistant coach Jim Hulton, which will lead Canada’s 2005 National Junior team at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, ND, December 25, 2004 -January 4, 2005.

DeBoer’s previous international experience includes being an assistant coach with Canada’s 1998 National Junior team and an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 1996 Under 18 Pacific Cup which captured a gold medal.

Hockey Canada will announce on Tuesday, June 22, the roster for the 2005 National Junior team August Development camp, which will take place in Calgary, AB at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena from August 12-19, 2004.

For more information on the Hockey Canada, please visit the official web site of Hockey Canada: www.hockeycanada.ca.