Blake named Canada GM for 2014 worlds

Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that Los Angeles Kings assistant general manager Rob Blake has been named general manager for Canada in the 2014 IIHF World Championship, which will be held May 9-25 in Minsk, Belarus.

Philadelphia Flyers assistant GM Ron Hextall, Hockey Canada vice president of hockey operations Brad Pascall, and Phoenix Coyotes assistant GM Brad Treliving will serve as Blake's assistants. Former NHL defenseman Steve Staios will be Canada's director of player development while assisting the management group and coaching staff on the ice.

In a 20-year NHL career, Blake had 777 points (240 goals, 537 assists) in 1,270 regular-season games, won the Norris Trophy in 1998 and a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. He represented Canada for 58 games over nine events, winning gold medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, 1997 IIHF World Championship and 1994 IIHF World Championship.

Canada opens the 2014 IIHF World Championship against France on May 9. It will face the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden in preliminary-round play.