Coach Hartsburg's final Team Canada roster

NEWS RELEASES

HOCKEY CANADA

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CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM NAMES FINAL ROSTER FOR WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, announced on Friday, December 15th, 2006, the final roster of 22 players which will represent Canada at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Leksand and Mora, Sweden from December 26, 2006 through January 5, 2007.

The roster features 11 players that won a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver, seven additional players with previous international experience. Sixteen (16) players have represented Canada with the National Under-18 Program, while 16 players have presented Canada on regional teams at the World Under-17 Challenge.

Friday morning, the coaching staff released six players, trimming the roster to the 22 player limit, as dictated by IIHF rules. The six released players are being returned to their club teams.

Released players from National Junior Team Selection Camp – December 14th

G – Jonathan Bernier (Laval, QC/ Lewiston, QMJHL) G – Steve Mason (Oakville, ON/ London, OHL) D – Dustin Kohn (Edmonton, AB/ Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL) D – Brendan Mikkelson (St. Albert, AB/ Vancouver, WHL) F – Cody Bass (Mississauga, ON/ Mississauga, OHL) F – Claude Giroux (Ottawa, ON/ Gatineau, QMJHL)

The team departs for Europe on Friday afternoon where it will train in Vierumakki, Finland from December 16-19. Canada will play in two exhibition games, on December 20th in Helsinki against Finland, and on December 22nd in Stockholm in Sweden.

Canada has medaled in eight straight World Junior Championships including: back to back gold medal performances in 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.

At the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden, Canada will look to win a third consecutive gold medal for the first time since Canada’s string of five consecutive World Junior Championship titles (1993-1997). Canada will play its first game of the 2007 World Juniors in Sweden on Boxing Day, December 26th, versus Sweden at 1:00pm ET (7:00pm local), which will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on the FAN radio network (check local listings).

For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp and Hockey Canada’s development programs, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.

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FINAL ROSTER: Goaltenders

Carey Price (Tri-City Americans) Leland Irving (Everett Silvertips)

Defence

Cody Franson (Vancouver Giants) Karl Alzner (Calgary Hitmen) Kris Russell (Medicine Hat Tigers) Kristopher Letang (Foreurs de Val d'Or) Luc Bourdon (Moncton Wildcats) Marc Staal (Sudbury Wolves) Ryan Parent (Guelph Storm)

Forwards

Andrew Cogliano (U. of Michigan Wolverines) Brad Marchand (Foreurs de Val d'Or) Bryan Little (Barrie Colts) Dan Bertram (Boston College Eagles) Darren Helm (Medicine Hat Tigers) James Neal (Plymouth Whalers) Jonathan Toews (North Dakota Fighting Sioux) Kenndal McArdle (Vancouver Giants) Marc-André Cliche (Lewiston Maineiacs) Ryan O'Marra (Saginaw Spirit) Sam Gagner (London Knights) Steve Downie (Peterborough Petes) Tom Pyatt (Saginaw Spirit)

Coaches

Craig Hartsburg, Head Coach (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) Clément Jodoin, Assistant Coach (Lewiston Maineiacs) Curtis Hunt, Assistant Coach (Regina Pats) Jamie Pringle, Video Coach (Hockey Canada)

Staff

Bob Nicholson, President Johnny Misley, Vice president Brad Pascall, Dir., Men’s National Team Scott Salmond, Dir., Men’s National Team Jim Hammett, Head Scout Corey Hirsch, Goaltending Consultant Tyler Broderson, Equipment manager (Lethbridge Hurricanes) Steve Lines, Equipment manager (Hockey Canada) Dr. Brian Benson Philippe Fait, Athletic Therapist (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) André Brin, Media Relations

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KRISTOPHER LETANG NAMED CAPTAIN OF CANADA’S 2007 NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM; ALTERNATE CAPTAINS NAMED

CALGARY – Head Coach Craig Hartsburg announced Friday that Kristopher Letang (Ste-Julie, QC/Val d’Or, QMJHL) has been named captain of Canada’s National Junior Team for the upcoming 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Leksand and Mora, Sweden, December 26, 2006 to January 5, 2007.

Letang, an alternate captain with the Foreurs, has 25 points in 16 games since being returned to Val d’Or from the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins on October 30.

He was a member of the 2006 National Junior Team that won the gold medal at the 2006 World Juniors in Vancouver, and also won a silver medal with the National Under-18 Team at the 2005 World Under-18 Championship in the Czech Republic.

A third round pick (62nd overall) of the Penguins at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Letang began the season in Pittsburgh and had two goals in seven NHL games.

Hartsburg also named four alternate captains for the upcoming tournament. As per IIHF rules, two players will wear the ‘A’ each game.

Steve Downie (Queensville, ON/Peterborough, OHL), Tom Pyatt (Thunder Bay, ON/Saginaw, OHL), Jonathan Toews (Winnipeg, MB/North Dakota, WCHA) and Marc Staal (Thunder Bay, ON/Sudbury, OHL) were all named alternates. Downie and Staal are captains of the Petes and Wolves, respectively, while Pyatt and Toews are alternates with their respective club teams.

All four were members of last year’s gold medal-winning National Junior Team in Vancouver.

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