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Hurricanes

Muller joins Ward, Skinner on Team Canada at World's

Apr 13, 2012

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller has been named an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, joining Canes players Cam Ward and Jeff Skinner.

Hockey Canada announced Friday that Muller will serve under Brent Sutter and alongside Tampa Bay head coach Guy Boucher behind the bench. Ward and Skinner were named to the team Wednesday. More Info     More Hurricanes Stories

Muller took over for the Hurricanes mid-season after being hired away from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and led Carolina to a 25-20-12 record in 57 games. Muller, a native of Kingston, Ontario, played for Team Canada at the 1984 Olympics as well as four IIHF World Championships (1985, 1986, 1987, 1989) and the 1984 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was also an assistant for Canada at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and at the 2005 Lotto Cup.

Sutter, the father of Hurricanes forward Brandon, coached the 2005 and 2006 Canada teams to gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championships. He recently parted ways with the Calgary Flames where he had been the head coach for the previous three seasons.

“This is a coaching staff that has a great deal of professional and international experience,” said Team Canada general manager Kevin Lowe. “Brent, Guy and Kirk are all looking forward to working with the 17 players we have named and leading this group to success in Helsinki.”

Ward, a Sherwwod Park, Alberta native, won a silver medal with Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Championships and a gold medal with Canada at the 2007 IIHF World Championships.

Skinner is from Markham, Ontario. He has won gold medals with Team Canada at two separate international tournaments as part of the Under-17 and Under-18 teams.

The 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships will be played in Finland and Sweeden May 4-20.

• Web Editor: Aaron Schoonmaker