ROLLER HOCKEY CANADA ANNOUNCES GENERAL MANAGERS FOR 2026 WORLD SKATE GAMES

Four experienced Canadian inline hockey leaders appointed to guide the Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s, Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s national team programs

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — [July 24th, 2026] — Roller Hockey Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of four general managers who will lead Canada’s national inline hockey teams toward the 2026 World Skate Games in Asunción, Paraguay.

The World Skate Games will take place from October 2–18, 2026, bringing together more than 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials from over 100 countries across multiple wheeled-sport disciplines. Inline hockey will be among the World Championships contested during the international event.

The following individuals have been appointed as general managers:

Senior Men’s National Team
Brent Hartwell - Sherwood Park, Alberta

Senior Women’s National Team
Nick Ruigrok - Calgary, Alberta

Junior Men’s National Team
Joel Prior - London, Ontario

Junior Women’s National Team
Kassandra Peone - London, Ontario

“These appointments bring together four individuals with extensive experience in team administration, coaching, athlete development and the growth of inline hockey within their respective communities,” said Jim Pratt, Executive Director of Roller Hockey Canada. “Each general manager understands both the privilege and the responsibility that come with representing Canada on the international stage.”

Brent Hartwell, Senior Men’s General Manager

Brent Hartwell brings longstanding experience within Alberta’s provincial inline hockey system. His previous roles have included serving as a Team Alberta manager and assistant coach for provincial teams competing at major North American events, including State Wars.  Brent is also the co-owner of the Sherwood Park Archers in the Alberta Elite Roller Hockey League, a perennial contender for the AB Pro Blackbird Cup and coached the 2023 Sea to Sky Championship winning team. 

Hartwell’s familiarity with high-performance team environments, tournament preparation and the Alberta inline hockey community will be valuable as he begins assembling the leadership group and player-selection process for Canada’s Senior Men’s program.

Nick Ruigrok, Senior Women’s General Manager

Nick Ruigrok has played a significant role in the development and expansion of inline hockey throughout southern Alberta. He has been closely involved with Calgary Roller Hockey and South Central Alberta Inline Hockey and has helped create competitive opportunities for athletes at the local, provincial and international levels.

Ruigrok has managed and supported teams across numerous age divisions, helped lead Alberta programs attending major competitions such as NARCh and the Western Nationals, and served as the owner and General Manager of the Calgary Outlaws, winners of the 2025 AB Pro Blackbird Cup. He currently stands as the RHC lead as the head of our Maple Nation programs for NARCh after the Canada Inline, Roller Hockey Canada merger.   His experience building programs, identifying players and coordinating competitive teams will support the continued development of Canada’s Senior Women’s team.

Joel Prior, Junior Men’s General Manager

Joel Prior is a longtime member of the London, Ontario, roller hockey community and currently serves as Youth Director with Roller Hockey London.

Prior’s experience includes coaching Team Canada and Team Ontario youth players, leading the Roller Hockey London Development Academy, London Armoury, and supporting athletes throughout their development from introductory programming into competitive play. He is a Hockey Canada-certified coach.

Having participated in the sport from a young age and later becoming a coach, league director and adult-team captain, Prior brings a comprehensive understanding of both athlete development and competitive team culture to the Junior Men’s program.

Kassandra Peone, Junior Women’s General Manager

Kassandra Peone brings extensive experience as a player, goaltender, coach and league leader.

Peone began playing hockey at an early age before transitioning into roller hockey in 2014. Her competitive background includes junior women’s hockey with the Hamilton Hawks, university hockey with the University of Windsor and senior women’s hockey in Michigan with Belle Tire.

As a director and coach with Roller Hockey London, she has also contributed to the development of young players and the continued growth of opportunities for girls and women in the sport. Her experience progressing through elite women’s hockey environments will provide important leadership and perspective as Canada develops its Junior Women’s roster.

Building Canada’s National Teams

The four general managers will work with Roller Hockey Canada to establish their respective coaching and support staffs, oversee athlete identification and selection, and prepare each program for international competition.

Additional announcements regarding coaching appointments, evaluation opportunities, selection camps and national-team rosters will be released as the programs progress.

“Our objective is not simply to select four teams,” Pratt added. “We are building a stronger and more connected national-team pathway - one that provides Canadian athletes, coaches and team leaders with meaningful opportunities to represent their country and contribute to the long-term growth of inline hockey across Canada.”

The World Skate Games are the world’s largest international gathering of roller and wheeled sports. The 2026 edition will be staged in Asunción and surrounding communities in Paraguay from October 2–18, 2026.

About Roller Hockey Canada

Roller Hockey Canada is the national governing organization dedicated to supporting, developing and promoting inline hockey across Canada. Working with provincial organizations, leagues, athletes, coaches, officials and international partners, Roller Hockey Canada is building a unified national pathway from community participation through high-performance international competition.

Jim Pratt
Executive Director
Roller Hockey Canada
jim.pratt@rollerhockeycanada.ca