Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan will conduct a review of men's junior hockey in Ontario and make recommendations to Hockey Canada and its three Ontario members, the national federation announced Saturday.
Shanahan, who was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs last May after serving as team president for more than a decade, will report to a six-member management committee.
It will produce an interim document in the coming weeks, including a stakeholder consultation framework, followed by a final report with its recommendations later in 2026, Hockey Canada said.
“Playing hockey for Team Canada has been one of the greatest honors of my career, so working on this project with Hockey Canada and its three Ontario members to help bring the game back to my home province is an opportunity for which I am very grateful,” Shanahan said. “Through this review, I look forward to learning from those involved in junior hockey in Ontario and better understanding their vision for how we can build a stronger system for everyone involved in our great game.”
Provincial members include Eastern Ontario Hockey, Northwestern Ontario Hockey and the Ontario Hockey Federation.
The recommendations, Hockey Canada said, will take into account the hockey experience needed to develop the skills and character traits that should be required to be competitive athletes in junior hockey in Ontario.
They will also ensure the model is athlete-centric, development-focused and identifies pathways for the development of players and their families across the province in light of ongoing changes in the junior hockey landscape, the federation said.
Hockey Canada plans to release an interim document and a final report once it has been submitted to the Ontario Management Committee.
