A former Durham Huskie is now one of the top decision-makers in Canadian hockey.
Misha Donskov was recently named Vice-President of Hockey Operations and Men’s National Teams Coach for Hockey Canada. The Stanley Cup-winning coach and longtime NHL executive has stepped into a major leadership role, one that will see him shape the future of Canada’s men’s programs from the World Juniors to the Olympic team.
For Donskov, the appointment is more than a career milestone, it’s a full-circle moment. "I loved my time playing for the Durham Huskies," he said in an interview with CKNXNewsToday.ca. "That team and that town had a major impact on me both personally and professionally. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to connect, to share how meaningful that experience was in shaping who I am."
Donskov played for the Huskies during the 1996–97 season, lining up alongside his brother Anthony and coached by John Antonopoulos. He still keeps in touch with many of his former teammates. "That old Metro Junior A league was a great developmental league. A lot of guys from there went on to play Division I, Major Junior, even in the NHL," he recalled. "It really pushed us."
Now, nearly three decades later, Donskov is leading the charge for Hockey Canada’s high-performance programs, a job that touches nearly every level of the national men’s team structure. He will serve as Head coach for Canada at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Switzerland, Assistant coach for the 2026 Olympic team in Milan and Cortina, Associate coach with the National Junior Team, and strategic lead for development programs like NextGen, U17, and U18.
It’s a rare mix of coaching and executive responsibility, something Donskov sees as both a challenge and a privilege. "It’s humbling and exciting," he said. "This role gives me the chance to support development from the grassroots to the Olympics. I get to help build our teams, work with our coaches, and really help grow the game across the country."
Donskov brings a wealth of experience. He spent the last two years as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars, and before that, was part of the Vegas Golden Knights organization for seven seasons, winning a Stanley Cup in 2023. He also held earlier roles with the London Knights, Ottawa 67’s, and Hockey Canada itself, where he worked from 2014 to 2016.
He credits that early stint at Hockey Canada as a career catalyst. "I lived in Calgary, got to know the people there, and worked very closely with Scott Salmond," he said, referring to Hockey Canada’s Senior VP of Hockey Operations. "It laid the foundation for my move to the NHL. Now I get to return and give back."
While his focus is now global, Donskov hasn’t forgotten the early days of his journey. "It’s always special when I’m back in Durham," he said. "There’s still so many people there I care about. That community gave me so much."