(Photo courtesy/Larry Brunt, Spokane Chiefs)

By Ben Tompkins

Brad Lauer

Humboldt native to coach at 2025 World Junior Hockey Championships

Aug 20, 2025 | 2:56 PM

A current Western Hockey League coach, and native of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, will be realizing a childhood dream later this year.

Brad Lauer will be a part of Team Canada’s coaching staff at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships.

“I’ve worked with Hockey Canada programs in the summer times in the past, but I’ve never been a part of the World Junior tournament. Actually, back when I was playing junior hockey, I went to the camp and was one of the final cuts, so as a kid, it was always my dream to represent my country. To get to do it now, later on in my life, as a coach, it’s just an honour and a privilege to have this opportunity,” Lauer told northeastNOW.

“Our mindset on what we want to accomplish is obviously to win it all, and I think the experience that our coaching staff has will play an important role. We’re dealing with an elite group of junior hockey players, so it’s going to be a great opportunity to work with those guys.”

Lauer is currently the head coach of the Spokane Chiefs and will be an assistant coach with the Canadian Junior team this winter.

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The now 58-year-old had a long playing career which spanned the SJHL, WHL, NHL ranks and more, which transitioned into coaching at the WHL, AHL, and NHL levels.

A former WHL Champion and Coach of the Year, Lauer knows pressure is a privilege for Team Canada and is excited for the challenge.

“The pressure we put on ourselves is boom or bust, and it’s how we deal with it. It’s not a bad thing to have those expectations, and as a group and staff, we want to have those challenges. We have a lot of pride in our country that hockey is our sport, and with our talent pool, the expectation is to win. Obviously, there are other countries who have the same dream to win gold, but that just comes with the passion that we have for our hockey program to always be the best,” added Lauer.

“As a coach or a player, every kid dreams of hearing the national anthem at the end of the tournament, and it being yours. To have something like that on your resume is something you’ll remember for a lifetime, so we’re going to do everything we can to accomplish that. Our goal is to bring the championship back to Canada, and that will be our mindset every day.”

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships begin December 26th in Minnesota, with the 50th rendition of the tournament wrapping up on January 6th. Canada’s last medal in the event came in 2023, when they won gold on home soil.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8