While general manager with the Oshawa Generals, Bassin pushed to have teams in the Canadian Hockey League send their best players to build a true Team Canada. He was assistant coach and assistant general manager of the national junior team from 1982 to 1985. When Canada won its first junior gold medal at the 1982 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Minnesota, players stood along the blue line and sang O Canada, when no national anthem was available. Bassin helped Canada win bronze at the 1983 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, fourth place at the 1984 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and a second gold medal at the 1985 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.