Tocchet, Cassidy, DeBoer named Canada's assistants for Olympics

Hockey Canada named Rick Tocchet, Bruce Cassidy, and Peter DeBoer assistant coaches on Jon Cooper's staff for the 2026 Olympics on Monday.

The coaching group is the same staff that guided Canada to victory at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Neither Cooper nor his assistants have ever previously coached at the Olympics.

Tocchet was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers in May following three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. The 61-year-old won the Jack Adams Trophy in 2024 after helping the Canucks to a resurgent 50-23-9 record and return to the playoffs. However, Vancouver took a step back last campaign, going 38-30-14, and Tocchet opted to leave for Philadelphia. As a player, Tocchet competed at the 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups but never represented his country at the Olympics.

Cassidy, head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, went 50-22-10 last season before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in Cassidy's first campaign at the helm following a six-season stint as the Boston Bruins' head coach.

DeBoer remains without a team after being fired by the Dallas Stars in June. The 57-year-old coached the Stars to three straight Western Conference Finals and has reached the final four in six of the past seven seasons between the San Jose Sharks, Golden Knights, and Stars. However, none of those runs progressed further than the conference final.

In June, Hockey Canada named forwards Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point, Sam Reinhart, and defenseman Cale Makar as the initial six players to its Olympic roster.