Boucher, who just completed his first season as head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, previously coached with the U-18 squad in 2006. He also served as an assistant with the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic (2002-06) and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (1997-2000) after a two-year stint as an assistant to Martin Raymond at McGill (1995-97).

Boucher, a native of Roxboro, Que., who will turn 36 this summer, earned a physical education degree from McGill in 1995. He played for the McGill Redmen from 1991 to 1995, serving as team captain and earning conference all-star honours in his final season. He scored 71 goals and 183 points in 141 career games with the Redmen, winning the Guy Lafleur trophy for combining academics and hockey in 1993 and the Bobby Bell trophy as team MVP in 1993-94.

Rounding out the U-18 coaching staff for Canada, which hasn't lost the tournament since 1995, will be head coach Dave Barr and assistant Jacques Beaulieu of the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs.

Teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S. will also compete at the event, which used to be known as the Junior World Cup.

The tournament is often the first international competition for young players. Many of the players on the under-18 team go on to represent Canada at the world junior championships.