Delaney Collins has been appointed as head coach of Canada's women's under-18 ice hockey team ©Hockey Canada

Delaney Collins has been appointed as head coach of Canada's women's under-18 ice hockey team.

The former player, a triple world champion for the country, is taking over the top job from Troy Ryan.

She has been confirmed in the position by Hockey Canada.

Her main task will be guiding her country's youngsters at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Under-18 Championship in Nizhny Novgorod in Russia.

Competition is due to be played in January, with Canada chasing a fourth title.

Delaney Collins, left, won three world titles at senior level for Canada ©Getty Images
Delaney Collins, left, won three world titles at senior level for Canada ©Getty Images

However, they have lost in the final in each of the last three years as rivals United States claimed a hat-trick of golds.

Collins was an assistant coach at the 2015 and 2017 editions of the Under-18 World Championship.

She won a gold medal with Canada's development team at the 2015 Nations Cup.

Her assistants in her new role will be Amanda Benoit-Wark and Darren Turcotte.