Canadian U18 Head Coach Kevin Marchuk: "There are many playing styles that other teams use. However, we will be prepared"

How challenging was it for you and your colleagues to compile the final roster for the 2023 World Junior Championships in Liberec?
There are many experienced players across Canada from which we can select our U18 team. Many of them have performed well at the Canadian Junior National Championship, where most selections are made. When we look at the makeup of the team, it is quite challenging to pick from all the players so that everyone fits into their team roles. Not to mention building special formations. However, our scouting team did an excellent job of assembling our team.

How did you select the right players for your team? Were you looking for players who possess certain skills, where the team would focus on playing specific styles? Or do you rely on your players' individual abilities?
A lot of factors come into play when selecting our players for the team. It's a balance between team adaptation and also monitoring what each individual brings to the team. Because our team is selected across Canada, many players will see each other for the first time in Liberec. However, before the trip, we communicate with the players, and we expect them to come with the right attitude, and a broad range of skills, and to adapt to our team and coaching mentality.

How is your team's preparation going so far? What are you focusing on? Is it about tactics or building your players' athletic abilities, such as speed and endurance? What are your team's strengths?
Again, due to our wide distribution of players across Canada, we communicate with the players and tell them to focus on being in the best possible shape and ready for the tournament when it comes. We have some time as a team before the start of the tournament to get everyone on the same page. To fine-tune team tactics, create special teams. Canada's strength has always been high speed, and high intensity when it comes to international tournaments. We take this stance and combine it with specific tactics. We also want our players to do what they do best, which is to play world-class ball hockey!

There will be no easy opponents at the tournament. What do you expect from the other participants?
When speaking for myself, I have played and trained in many ISBHF tournaments and have become accustomed to various trends from different countries. The most interesting thing I have observed over the years, including in Canada, is how there are many different styles of play and how teams try to use the tactics they know while also trying to adapt to what opposing teams can bring to the game. We have known for many years that Slovakia and the Czech Republic play a very compact and defensively-minded style. We expect tough battles with hard-working teams from the USA and Switzerland. Great Britain has come a long way since the beginning of their program, especially in recent years in the U18 category. We expect their country to continue to improve in every age group.

What are your ambitions for the tournament? What are you willing to sacrifice for a medal?
Our goal in this U18 tournament will be clear. I was part of the coaching team for U18 in the last two World Championships, where we were champions in several very close final matches. Our goal is therefore to complete a rare golden hat-trick and bring gold back to Canada.

Overall, how excited are you about the tournament? What is the mood like in your team?
The whole team and Canadian ball hockey are very excited to return to the Junior World Championship. After the great disappointment of the previous tournaments that were canceled due to COVID-19, everyone is thrilled to be able to return to watching the world's best junior ball hockey players on the world stage. It is a great experience for all involved, and I can speak on behalf of Canada and say that we are very excited to be able to make the trip to the Czech Republic and participate.

How is this team different from the last team you played with at the 2018 Junior World Championship?
Of course, since the 2018 tournament was so long ago, we have all new players coming into our U18 program. We have several players who have previously been named to Team Canada, but for many of them, it will be their first experience playing in a world tournament. As a coaching team, we will quickly see what each player brings to the team at the beginning of the tournament. We have high expectations for all players on our roster.