Get used to seeing Misha Donskov behind the bench for Team Canada.
Donskov will serve as Canada’s head coach at three marquee events through 2026-27, Hockey Canada announced Thursday.
The 48-year-old will make his head coaching debut at the 2026 men’s world championships, then will also be Canada’s head coach at the 2027 world juniors and the 2027 men’s worlds.
“Misha is an integral member of our hockey operations staff, and his contributions to successful teams at Hockey Canada over the years, as well as his NHL and OHL coaching and front office experience make him the perfect fit to lead our National Men’s Team and National Junior Team as head coach starting next month,” senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations Scott Salmond said in a statement. “Misha is a world-class coach, and we are fortunate to have him building the coaching and support staffs that will put us in a position to win multiple gold medals at two of the marquee events on the international hockey calendar.”
Donskov was previously named as vice president of hockey operations by Hockey Canada on June 27, 2025.
Before joining Hockey Canada, Donskov was an assistant with the Dallas Stars under Peter DeBoer, and also spent time with the Vegas Golden Knights from 2020-23, winning the Stanley Cup in 2023.
Donskov has an extensive hockey background, including an OHL championship with the London Knights as assistant general manager and coach in 2012.
He has previously captured two World Championships (2015, 2016) and a World Junior gold medal (2015) as manager of hockey operations, analytics and video. He also served as assistant coach during the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025.
“Representing Canada on the international stage is a huge honour, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Canada’s National Men’s Team and Canada’s National Junior Team as head coach at three marquee world championships,” Donskov said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with my colleagues in hockey operations and throughout Hockey Canada, as well as coaches and staff throughout the National Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League, to build teams and programs that give us the best chance to win gold medals.”