INCHEON, South Korea – Hockey Canada announced the addition of Perry Pearn (Stettler, Alta.) to the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team coaching staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Pearn will join the coaching staff that includes head coach Laura Schuler (Scarborough, Ont.) as a third assistant coach, alongside Troy Ryan (Spryfield, N.S.), Dwayne Gylywoychuk (Winnipeg, Man.) and goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, Alta.).

“Perry has been working with our program since August and we are excited that he can officially join us at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games,” said Melody Davidson, general manager, national women’s team programs. “Perry has done a significant amount of pre-scout work and will continue to be an eye in the sky for our team. His presence will provide consistency in our day-to-day in PyeongChang and we’d like to thank the Canadian Olympic Committee and POCOG for supporting his addition to our accredited staff.”

Most recently on the international women’s stage, Pearn was an integral part of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team at the 2018 Nations Cup in Füssen, Germany. Behind the bench with Team Canada, Pearn won gold as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team at the 1993 IIHF World Junior Championship, and also as an assistant coach in 1990 and 1991.

“Our entire coaching staff is really looking forward to continuing our relationship with Perry; we value his international experience and the insight he brings to our team” said Schuler. “Having worked closely with Perry throughout the season we are excited to have him join us on this final leg of our journey.”

Pearn has also served as an assistant coach in the National Hockey League over the span of 20 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets.

“I’m really looking forward to continuing to work alongside Laura and her coaching staff,” said Pearn. “It’s been great to be involved throughout the season and I will continue to do everything I can to help support this team as it goes for gold in PyeongChang.”

Canada will look to win its fifth-straight gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games when the puck drops in South Korea on Feb. 11. In addition to its four gold medals, the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also claimed silver in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

The Olympic women’s hockey tournament opens on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre and culminates on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Canada is scheduled to compete in Group A and begins preliminary-round play on Sunday, Feb. 11.                                                      

For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter.com/HC_Women.