Nipissing Lakers Varsity Women's hockey coach Darren Turcotte has been selected as an assistant coach for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team for the 2017-18 season.
The former NHLer won gold as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team at the 2015 Nations Cup.
As a player, he was drafted in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers and played 11 NHL seasons with New York, Hartford, Winnipeg, San Jose, St. Louis, and Nashville.
"I am once again humbled by this selection and I look forward to working with some amazing staff and some top players in the country," said Turcotte in a message to BayToday.ca.
"Even more so, I am excited to continue to learn exactly what it is that Hockey Canada looks for in a player so that I can bring this message back to my players here at Nipissing to give all of them the best opportunity of having their own opportunity of representing Canada in the future."
Delaney Collins will serve as Team Canada National Women’s Under-18 head coach.
“We’re excited about the depth in leadership across these coaching staffs and the presence of our alumnae behind the bench,” said Melody Davidson, general manager of national women’s team programs with Hockey Canada said about the coaching selections.
“These coaches have experience across many different levels of the game along with our programs, and we’re looking forward to this group leading our teams on the international stage throughout the 2017-18 season.”
Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp is scheduled for Aug. 5-13 in Calgary, followed by a three-game series against the United States’ Women’s Under-18 Select Team from Aug. 15-20 in Lake Placid, N.Y. It will also participate in the 2018 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
