Misha Donskov has been appointed as the head coach for Canada’s teams at the upcoming men’s world championships and the 2027 world juniors, as confirmed by Hockey Canada in Calgary. The 49-year-old, hailing from London, Ont., will mark his international head coaching debut at this year’s world championship in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, commencing on May 15.
Donskov previously served as an assistant coach for the Canadian teams that secured gold at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and silver at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Additionally, he was an associate coach for Canada’s bronze-winning team at the 2026 world junior championship. Prior to this role, Donskov’s involvement with Team Canada primarily revolved around his position as a video coach.
His journey with Hockey Canada began on June 27, 2025, when he was appointed as the vice president of hockey operations and men’s national team coach. Donskov’s NHL experience includes over three years as an assistant coach and four years as the director of hockey operations with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he contributed to their Stanley Cup victory in 2023. Following his tenure with the Golden Knights, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars before transitioning to a full-time role with Hockey Canada.
Hockey Canada is set to unveil the remaining members of the coaching staff for the 2026 world championship in the upcoming days.