Winterhawks President, General Manager Johnston named to Hockey Canada Program of Excellence management group
Portland Winterhawks President and General Manager Mike Johnston is heading back to the international stage.
Johnston is among four Canadian Hockey League general managers chosen to helm Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence management group for the 2024-25 season.
The former WHL Champion coach is making his POE management debut as he leads the national under-17 program for the 2025 U17 World Challenge in Truro, N.S.
The Program of Excellence management group is set for this season. 🇨🇦
Annonce du groupe de gestion du Programme d’excellence pour 2025-2026. 🇨🇦
🏒 Mike Johnston (@pdxwinterhawks)
🏒 Yanick Lemay (@VoltigeursDRU)
🏒 Mark Hunter (@LondonKnights)
🏒 Dave Brown (@ErieOtters)— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 11, 2025
Johnston joins Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QMJHL), Dave Brown (Erie, OHL) and Mark Hunter (London/OHL) in the management ranks.
The group has been selected by former Regina Pats general manager and newly-minted POE general manager Alan Millar, Hockey Canada senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations Scott Salmond and director of hockey operations Benoit Roy.
“Mike, Yanick, Mark and Dave will provide a wealth of knowledge throughout our Program of Excellence from their vast Canadian Hockey League and international experience,” Millar said. “We are tremendously grateful for their commitment to Hockey Canada’s under-17, under-18 and under-20 programs and are looking forward to their contributions to Canada’s success in international play this season.”
Johnston, from Dartmouth, N.S., has helped shape Portland into a perennial WHL powerhouse in his 14 seasons as a general manager, head coach, and now, president.
He led the Winterhawks to a WHL Championship in 2013, seven straight 40-plus win seasons and ranks ninth in all-time wins by a WHL coach with 543.
The 68-year-old has been recognized as the U.S. Division Executive of the Year and Coach of the Year in 2023-24.
He’s also worked as an assistant and associate coach with the Vancouver Canucks, an associate with the Los Angeles Kings and Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On the international stage, Johnston recently served as an assistant coach for Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
He coached Canada to a pair of gold medals at the IIHF World Championship (1997, 2007), in addition to two silver medals (1996, 2008) and one bronze (1995).
Johnston has also won gold three times as an assistant coach at the IIHF World Junior Championship (1994, 1995, 1996), a Spengler Cup in 1993, and was also named an assistant for the 1998 Olympic Games and head coach at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship.
The 2025 U17 World Challenge runs from October 31-November 8 at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.
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