Lowes was an assistant coach for the Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team at the 1993 Pacific Cup tournament in Yokohama, where Canada placed third. He returned as an assistant coach for the under-18 team at the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships in Slovakia, where Canada placed sixth. He was named head coach of the under-18 team for the 2003 U-18 Junior World Cup in Slovakia, with Dave Cameron and Pascal Vincent as assistants. Canada had won seven consecutive gold medals at the event, but placed fourth in 2003.