Gallant named head coach of Canada at 2021 World Hockey Championship

Hockey Canada named Gerard Gallant head coach for the 2021 World Hockey Championship in Riga, Latvia on Wednesday.

The longtime NHL bench boss will work alongside assistants Mike Kelly and André Tourigny. Kelly, currently the director of hockey operations for the OHL's Oshawa Generals, previously worked as an assistant under Gallant with the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers.

Gallant hasn't coached since being let go by the Golden Knights in January 2020. He was hired as the club's first-ever head coach ahead of its inaugural campaign in 2017-18 and led Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final that season.

Gallant previously served as head coach for the Panthers from 2014-17 and Columbus Blue Jackets from 2003-07.

The Prince Edward Island native earned a gold medal as an assistant coach for Canada at the 2007 world championships.

The tournament is slated to begin May 21, with the gold medal game set for June 6.