Kamloops Blazers legend Shane Doan is going to the Winter Olympics next month as the general manager of Canada’s men’s hockey team.

Hockey Canada has also named Claude Julien as head coach.

The pair replace St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong and Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper after the NHL decided it won’t send its players to the Olympics last month because of COVID-19.

“As the 2022 Olympics quickly approach, we are excited to officially unveil the coaching, management and support staffs that will be a part of Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team in Beijing,” Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of national teams, Scott Salmond said.

“Shane, the entire management and the coaching staff have been working extensively to evaluate players and build a roster that gives us the best chance to compete for a gold medal, and we look forward to unveiling that roster in the coming weeks.”

Both Doan and Julien were widely expected to be part of Canada’s Olympic hockey team in Beijing as they were also named GM and head coach of Team Canada at the Channel One Cup in Russia and the Spengler Cup in Switzerland.

Canada finished third at the Channel One Cup, while the Spengler Cup was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Doan most recently won a gold medal as assistant general manager of Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship.

Former Blazers defenceman Nolan Baumgartner will also be going to the Olympics next month as an assistant coach with Team Canada.

Canada will begin its quest for gold against Germany on Feb. 10. They will also play the United States and China in the preliminary round before the tournament wraps up with the medal games on Feb. 20.