Clouston, Pogge named to National Junior Team staff for 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship

Shaun Clouston of the Kamloops Blazers and WHL alumnus Justin Pogge are set to represent Canada as members of the National Junior Team coaching staff for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Hockey Canada announced the complete coaching staff for the National Junior Team Friday afternoon.

Clouston, who serves as Head Coach of the Blazers, was named an Assistant Coach, while Pogge was named Goaltending Consultant. Pogge spent three seasons in the WHL from 2003-2006, splitting time with the Prince George Cougars and Calgary Hitmen.

In addition to Clouston and Pogge being named to the coaching staff, Hockey Canada also announced the addition of former Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Brent Seabrook as a member of the management group alongside Lethbridge Hurricanes GM Peter Anholt, who serves as the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group.

Anholt helped to select the staff for the National Junior Team.

“I am excited to work with this world-class staff as we look to achieve our collective goal of defending gold and winning a World Junior Championship,” Anholt said. “I know every staff member is grateful for this opportunity and will represent our country with pride in Sweden, and we look forward to assembling a roster that will make Canadians proud as they cheer us on this holiday season.”

Clouston, a native of Viking, Alta., won two gold medals with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2014 and 2015 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, as well as a bronze medal with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship. He is currently in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Blazers, adding the title of General Manager in 2021-22. Clouston previously spent 16 seasons (2003-19) with the Medicine Hat Tigers as General Manager and Head Coach, associate coach and assistant coach, helping lead the team to Memorial Cup appearances in 2004 and 2007.

Pogge earned the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL Player of the Year after going 38-10-6 with a 1.72 goals-against average, .926 save percentage, and 11 shutouts. He was also named WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year for his efforts. Over the course of a three-year WHL career, the product of Fort McMurray, Alta., finished with a record of 79-49-12 backed by a 2.29 GAA, .911 SV% and 20 shutouts.

Seabrook previously served as a Player Development Coach with the Vancouver Giants (2022-23). As a player, he skated in 264 career WHL Regular Season games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, logging 176 points (39G-137A) from 2001-2005.

Canada’s National Junior Team will gather at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ont., for a four-day selection camp, December 10-13, before selecting a final roster ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. The selection camp will include a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on December 12-13.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.