BURLINGTON, Vt. – Drew Michals will be joining the Latvian Federation as an Assistant Coach at the upcoming World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ontario. In addition, Catamounts commits Alex Bump (USA) and Kris Krumins (Latvia) will compete in the prestigious tournament.

RELATED LINKS
World Junior A Challenge Schedule
 
The 2022 World Junior A Challenge represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), Hockey Eastern Ontario, NHL Central Scouting and the local organizing committee. The five-team format includes Team Canada East, Team Canada West, Latvia, Sweden and the United States.
 
"It is with tremendous pride that we are able to announce that another member of our staff will be coaching at the international level this season," said Head Coach Todd Woodcroft. "The top Junior A players from across the globe will be participating in this event, and to have Drew as an Assistant Coach with Latvia is a further example of UVM gaining a foothold in the international community. It is a personal mandate of UVM men's hockey to assist and encourage our staff to represent UVM Hockey on the global stage. In the past two years, every single one of our coaches has coached at the highest levels."

• Scott Moser, Assistant Coach, Team Slovakia
• Steve Wiedler, Assistant Coach, Team Norway
• Drew Michals, Assistant Coach, Team Latvia
• Erik Elenz, Video Coach, Team Germany
• Todd Woodcroft, Assistant Coach, Team Sweden
• Patrick Dooley, Head Equipment Manager, Team USA (Gretzky/Hlinka Tournament)

"These are great accomplishments for UVM Hockey and we are proud to participate in these renowned international events," continued Woodcroft. "We believe that these experiences will continue to reap rewards for UVM men's hockey. Furthermore, as the head coach, I firmly believe that each of these men will be head coaches of their own teams in the near future. Similar to recruiting players, it is a goal of this program to recruit the top coaches and as we are able to afford these opportunities to every one of our staff, we know that we will continue to draw top coaches to UVM men's hockey as well."
 
Bump was selected 133rd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal. This season he's serving as an alternate captain with the Omaha Lancers in the USHL. In 19 games this season he has eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points. USA has won the World Junior A Challenge eight times since its inception in 2006, most recently in 2018.
 
Krumins is playing this fall with the Jersey Hitmen, which have developed several Catamounts throughout the years including Volunteer Assistant Coach Brendan Bradley. In 10 games with their 18U team he has 10 goals and three assists for 13 points. At the Junior A level, he has two goals and three assists for five points in four games.
 
"This tournament is a unique opportunity for Bump and Krumins to continue their development competing against some of the best athletes in their age group," said Woodcroft. "We look forward to following the action in Cornwall on-site and wish the USA and Latvia all the best."
 
Cornwall was originally scheduled to host the World Junior A Challenge in 2020 and 2021, but both were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city most recently hosted a pre-tournament game between Sweden and Slovakia ahead of the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2022-23 men's hockey season