CALGARY – Hockey Canada named Pat Quinn as the head coach of the U20 national team on Thursday.

Quinn, who won the IIHF World U18 Championship in April 2008, moves on to coach Canada at the 2008 IIHF World U20 Championship. He replaces Benoît Groulx, who stepped down two weeks ago to take over the AHL team Rochester Americans.

Quinn has a long history with Hockey Canada, including serving as head coach at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics, winning gold in Salt Lake City.

The two-time NHL coach of the year has coached Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto  during his NHL career from 1978 to 2006.

Guy Boucher (Drummondville/QMJHL), Dave Cameron (Mississauga/OHL) and Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat/WHL) will serve as assistant coaches.

The World U20 Championship will be played in Ottawa from December 26, 2008, to January 5, 2009. Canada plays the Czech Republic on the first evening at Scotiabank Place. The other venue is the Ottawa Civic Centre.

“The World U18 Championship was a fantastic experience,” said Quinn. “And the World U20 Championship is only going to be better. I look forward to helping Canada go for gold in front of great crowds in Ottawa.”

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