Brendan Shanahan to Lead Review of Men's Junior Hockey in Ontario, News (Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario)

These recommendations will consider the hockey experiences needed for developing the skills and character traits that should be the requirements for competitive athletes in junior hockey in Ontario moving forward and ensure the model in Ontario is athlete-centred, development-focused and has defined pathways across the province for players and their families in light of the ongoing changes to the junior hockey landscape.  

Shanahan will report to a six-person governance committee and produce two public documents: an interim paper that includes a framework for consulting with stakeholders in the coming weeks, and a final report with his recommendations later in 2026.

The committee consists of Craig Halpenny, president of Hockey Eastern Ontario; Dean Filane, president of Hockey Northwestern Ontario; Jeffrey Turner, chair of the Ontario Hockey Federation Board of Directors; Jonathan Goldbloom, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors; John Kastner, Hockey Canada board member; and Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada.

“As a player, parent and executive, Brendan’s experience in the game is second to none and we are extremely appreciative of his commitment to lead this important project that will strengthen the experience for everyone involved with men’s junior hockey in Ontario,” said Henderson on behalf of the committee. “Brendan is tremendously proud of his Ontario roots, and he has the full support of Hockey Canada and our three Ontario Members as he works to deliver recommendations that will benefit junior hockey in his home province for generations to come.”

The initiative will be informed by existing studies that have been conducted by Members and additional consultation and research that Shanahan will conduct with stakeholders in Ontario in the coming months.

To conduct his work, Shanahan will take four guiding principles into account:

• Prioritize the needs, development and wellbeing of players at all levels of junior hockey in Ontario, with policies and frameworks that are rooted in healthy player experiences.
• Foster collaboration across Hockey Canada, its Ontario Members and junior hockey stakeholders in the province to establish recommendations around a cohesive governance model with consistent, aligned development pathways, clear roles and responsibilities, and a unified approach to junior hockey excellence.
• Maintain transparency and openness throughout the process, ensuring stakeholders are consulted and informed in decision-making to build trust and confidence in renewed governance and the broader hockey system.
• Embed Hockey Canada’s core values into his recommendations around governance structures and actions to be taken.

“Playing hockey for Team Canada was one of the greatest honours of my career, so to work on this project with Hockey Canada and its three Ontario Members to help give back to the game in my home province is an opportunity that I am very grateful for,” said Shanahan. “Throughout this review, I’m looking forward to learning from those involved in junior hockey in Ontario and better understanding their visions for how we can build a stronger system for everyone participating in our great game.”

Once delivered to the Ontario governance committee, Shanahan’s interim paper and final report will be published by Hockey Canada.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

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For more information, please contact:

Jeremy Knight  

Chief of Staff

Hockey Canada            

(416) 451-3343                                     

[email protected]