DaSilva named Team Canada head coach for U17 World Challenge
Calgary, AB – Saskatoon Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva will represent the maple leaf for the first time in his career. Hockey Canada announced Thursday the Saskatoon, SK native will serve as head coach for Team Canada Red at the 2026 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge taking place in Oakville, ON in November.
DaSilva enters his third season as the bench boss in Saskatoon. The 41-year-old is 76-50-15 as Blades head coach, five wins coming in an interim role during the 2023-24 season in the absence of then head coach Brennan Sonne at the U17 Hockey Challenge. In his first full season as head coach in 2024-25, DaSilva led the sixth-youngest team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) to a 37-23-8 record, one win shy of a second consecutive East Division Title. DaSilva was named a finalist for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s coach of the year. Last season, DaSilva coached Saskatoon to a 34-27-7 record. The Bridge City Bunch advanced to Round 2 of the WHL Playoffs after a back-and-forth seven-game series against the third-seeded Edmonton Oil Kings. The Blades downed Edmonton 3-2 in Game 7 overtime on the road. The victory marked the first time in franchise history the Blue and Gold won a Game 7 away from home.
Prior to head coaching duties, DaSilva started as an assistant coach for his hometown team in the 2021-22 season. DaSilva helped the Blades reach the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 29 years in 2023. DaSilva was promoted to associate coach ahead of the 2023-24 season. The Blades captured the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record at 50-13-5, reaching Game 7 overtime of the Eastern Conference Final in 2024.
Before beginning his coaching career in Saskatoon, DaSilva played pro for 15 years across North America and Europe.
The 2026 U17 Hockey Challenge takes place between Sunday, Nov. 1 to Saturday, Nov. 7. For the full Team Canada White and Team Canada Red coaching staff, click HERE.
