Otters GM Dave Brown named to Hockey Canada Program of Excellence management group for 2026-27 season

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the three Canadian Hockey League (CHL) general managers that will comprise the Program of Excellence (POE) management group for the 2026-27 season, including the return of Erie Otters GM, Dave Brown.  

Brown returns to the POE management group, working with Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta. The other selections include: Mike Johnston (Portland, WHL), who returns for his second consecutive stint with the POE, guiding the under-17 program through the 2026 U17 World Challenge in Oakville, Ontario, and Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QMJHL), who returns for the third-straight year to support the under-18 program through the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alberta. 

The management group was selected by POE general manager Alan Millar, Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy, director of hockey operations.

“We are very pleased to have Dave, Yanick, and Mike return to the POE Management Group,” said Millar. “All three individuals bring great leadership, CHL management, and international experience to our National Teams. Dave, Yanick, and Mike will play a significant role in player evaluations, team building, and establishing the standard for culture and expectations across all our programs.” 

Brown helped lead Canada to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship in Finland and gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also helped Canada White to gold at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He is currently in his 11th season (2015-26) as general manager of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after serving four seasons (2011-15) as director of hockey operations. He helped lead Erie to an OHL championship in 2017 and contributed to a CHL record of four consecutive 50-win seasons (2011-15). Prior to joining the Otters, Brown spent seven seasons with the Mississauga/Niagara IceDogs, serving as assistant general manager (2003-05) and general manager (2005-10).

The POE is overseen by Katherine Henderson, Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer; Misha Donskov, vice-president of hockey operations and men’s national teams coach, Salmond, Millar, Roy, Dan MacKenzie (CHL president), Bryan Crawford (OHL commissioner), Mario Cecchini (QMJHL commissioner) and Dan Near (WHL commissioner).

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.