±«ÓãÖ±²¥ grad Burnett to coach Canadian U-18 squad in Slovakia and Czech Republic
(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE McGILL NEWS AND EDMONTON OILERS)
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MONTREAL - George Burnett, a former member of the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ men's hockey team and physical education graduate, has been named head coach of the Canadian national under-18 team that will compete at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka memorial tournament this summer.
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The event is slated for Aug. 10-14 in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
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Burnett, a 48-year-old native of Port Perry, Ont., has had an extensive coaching career since graduating from ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ in 1986, including a stint as bench boss of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers at the age of 32, becoming the third-youngest head coach in NHL history.
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He recently completed his sixth season as head coach and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League's Belleville Bulls. Burnett has also had coaching stints with the OHL's Oshawa Generals, Guelph Storm and Niagara Falls Thunder, plus the American Hockey League's Binghamton Rangers and Cape Breton Oilers. He also served as an assistant coach with the NHL's Anaheim Mighty Ducks
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This marks his second appearance as head coach of the U-18s. In 2001, Burnett led Canada to a gold medal at the Six Nations Cup in the Czech Republic.
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His most recent experience with Hockey Canada came as an assistant coach with the men's U-18 team at the 2010 IIHF World U18 championship in Belarus, where Canada finished seventh.
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"It is always a tremendous privilege and honour to represent Canada on the international stage," said Burnett. "Being with Team Canada past has always been a tremendous experience and I am anxious to get started with the coaching staff to get our plan in place."
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He will be joined behind Canada's bench by Ron Choules (head coach of the QMJHL's Acadie-Bathurst Titan) and Jim Hiller (head coach of the WHL's Tri-City Americans) for the tournament, which Canada has won in each of the last two years, and five of the last seven.
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Burnett was the first ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ hockey player to earn All-Canadian honours, accomplishing the feat as a freshman in 1982-83, when he established the Redmen single-season points record (since broken), posting a 21-60-81 mark in 38 games. His 60-assist campaign still stands as a school record.
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YOUNGEST COACHES IN NHL HISTORY
25 Gary Green, Washington Capitals, (born: Aug 23, 1954, appointed Nov 14, 1979)
28 Paul Maurice, Hartford Whalers, (born: Jan 30, 1967, appointed Ìýin Fall, 1995)
32 George Burnett, Edmonton Oilers, (born: Mar. 25, 1962, appointed in June, 1994)
32 Pierre McGuire, Hartford, (born: Aug. 8, 1961, appointed Nov.1993)
32 Doug Barkley, Detroit Red Wings, (born: Jan. 6, 1937, appointed in 1970-71)
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SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation, Room 225 B
±«ÓãÖ±²¥
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca
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