Canada’s men’s hockey team aims for gold at 2015 Winter Universiade

Watch above: Four Saskatchewan Huskies have been named to Team Canada men’s hockey team for 2015 Winter Universiade. Jack Haskins catches up with Dave Adolph on how he put together the team that hopes to bring home gold.

SASKATOON – The past six months have been hectic for Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey coach Dave Adolph. Back in June, Adolph was appointed as the head coach of Team Canada’s men’s hockey team for the 2015 Winter Universiade.

Ever since then he’s worked tirelessly to assemble a gold medal caliber roster.

“It was difficult,” said Adolph on Wednesday. “The last three or four (cuts) were really hard because you might have more players from one team and not enough from another, but I think we did a pretty good job.”

The Winter Universiade is essentially the Winter Olympics for University athletes. Every two years the CIS rotates which conference will represent Canada’s men’s hockey team at the Winter Universiade.

This time around players from the Canada West conference will wear the Maple Leaf at the 2015 Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain. What started off as a long list of 47 candidates eventually got shaved down to 23.

Selecting the final roster was a difficult, but rewarding process for head coach Dave Adolph.

“When they (we) phoned them, you just hear them hooting in the background, it was a big event for them.”

Four Saskatchewan Huskies made the final cut:

• Forward: Craig McCallum
• Defence: Matthew Delahey, Kendall McFaull
• Goaltender: Ryan Holfeld

“Craig McCallum is going because of his utility.” said Adolph. “He can play in a number of positions. He’s highly efficient on big ice.”

“Then we have some big mean guys that have the ability to shut down guys like Kendall McFaull and Matt Delahey.”

MORE: Huskies defenceman Kendall McFaull stabilizing force on blue line

This marks the second time Adolph has been named the bench boss of Canada’s men’s hockey team; he coached Canada to a bronze medal in 2003. But in February, Adolph will try to lead Team Canada to back-to-back gold medals for the first time in Winter Universiade history.