Seems as though the lure of the Maple Leaf has become too hard a draw to resist for Dan DePalma.

The Blazers’ goaltending coach is once again coming up as the best choice to lead the goaltending squad for Team Canada at this year’s IIHF World U18’s in Texas.

De Palma has been tapped as the goaltending coach once again, after picking up the role of goaltender mentor for last year’s U18’s, where he and Kamloops Blazer Harrison Brunicke brought home gold medals.

 Two-time Stanley Cup champ Cory Stillman, who now guides the Guelph Storm in the OHL, will be Team Canada’s bench boss.

Stillman and De Palma will work alongside associate coach Travis Crickard with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, along with assistant coach Mathieu Turcotte with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL.

The turn-around is going to be fairly quick for Team Canada.

The National Team is already gathered in Oakville, Ontario for three days of training as of this past Friday.

The team will head out on Monday for the start of the tournament in Texas.

Canada opens the pre-tournament at noon on Saturday against Germany, then plays another pre-tournament game against Sweden on the following Monday afternoon (3pm PST).

The 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship kicks off on April 23rd.

Canada opens up the campaign against Slovakia, followed by Latvia, Finland and Norway in the preliminary round.

The medal games will take place starting May 3rd.

While De Palma will be representing Kamloops, Blazers import forward Vit Zahejsky will be wearing the Czech colors at the tournament.

No Blazers were invited to try out for Team Canada.

Canada has never repeated as IIAF Champions in the Men’s U18 tournament, having only won it five times since its inception in 1999.

The Americans have controlled the pace of this tournament since its launch, having won it 11 times.