La Salle resident and former Carman Cougar Mike McAulay will help lead Canada’s top Junior A players on the international stage this winter.
McAulay, the general manager and director of scouting for the MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks, has been named Director of Operations for Team Canada West at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge, taking place December 7–13 in Trois-Rivières, Que. The announcement was made by Hockey Canada earlier this month.
The World Junior A Challenge is one of the key showcase events in Canada’s junior hockey pathway, featuring elite talent from across Canada, the United States and Europe. This year’s four-team field includes Canada West, Canada East, the United States and Sweden, with all games to be streamed on HNLive.ca and the gold medal game airing on TSN+.
McAulay says the appointment is meaningful not just personally, but for the league and communities he represents.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be a part of Hockey Canada,” McAulay said. “Any time you can pull on a Team Canada jersey is a special moment. It’s special for the players, and for the organizations they come from in the MJHL.”
McAulay has played a central role in building the Nighthawks from the ground up since the franchise joined the MJHL in 2022. The team has developed a reputation for strong involvement with Hockey Canada West. In 2023, Nighthawks forward Nathan Brown, head coach Kelvin Cech and physiotherapist Justin Giesbrecht all represented Canada West, helping the team secure a gold medal with a 7–2 win over Canada East.
“The Nighthawks have been well represented on this stage in the past, both as players and staff,” McAulay added. “I’m really excited to continue this run.”
A product of Carman minor hockey, McAulay skated for the Carman Collegiate Cougars before continuing his playing career in Crookston, Minn. After returning to Manitoba, he completed a business degree and went on to work with RBC, CIBC, HSBC and Canadian Western Bank, while staying active in junior hockey scouting and operations. He also scouts for the WHL’s Penticton Vees, helping identify emerging talent across Western Canada.
McAulay and his wife, Leah, live in La Salle with their three children — Olivia, Liam and Ewen.
Joining McAulay behind the Canada West bench is fellow MJHL representative Josh Gratton, head coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Blues, who has been named an assistant coach for the tournament.
Canada West has won gold six times since the tournament began in 2006.
