Josh Godfrey named to Canadian Super Series team

NEWS RELEASE

HOCKEY CANADA

************************* Hockey Canada names roster for Canada/Russia Super Series

CALGARY – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced Wednesday its roster of 26 junior-aged players (born in 1988 or later) that will represent Canada at the Canada/Russia Super Series.

The Canada/Russia Super Series, a one-time eight-game series featuring the best Under-20 players from Canada and Russia, will take place from August 27 to September 9, with the first four games to be held in Russia, and the final four to be held in Canadian cities (Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Red Deer and Vancouver).

Canada’s 26-player roster will gather in Toronto on August 20th before traveling to Russia for the first four games which begin on August 27th, and then returning to their club teams and/or NHL training camps upon conclusion of the final game of the series on September 9.

The Canada/Russia Super Series will also serve to evaluate and develop Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship.

With the advent of the Canada/Russia Super Series, Hockey Canada will not host the annual National Junior Team summer development camp this year (the summer camp usually runs in Calgary in early August);

Canada’s 26 player roster consists of three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 15 forwards.

The 26 players named to the roster were selected by Hockey Canada’s head scout Jim Hammett, in consultation with Canada’s Super Series coaching staff led by Head Coach Brent Sutter and Canada’s 2008 National Junior Team coaching staff led by Head Coach Craig Hartsburg.

Hammett followed and evaluated Canadian players over the 2006-07 season with their club teams, Canada’s National Junior and National Under-18 teams as well as at the CHL Canada/Russia Challenge.

Brent Sutter (Red Deer, WHL) will coach Canada at the Canada/Russia Super Series, with the first game of the eight-game series starting in Russia on August 27 and finishing with the eighth and final game in Canada on September 9.

Peter DeBoer (Kitchener, OHL) and Benoit Groulx (Gatineau, QMJHL) will join Sutter behind the Canadian bench as assistant coaches.

Craig Hartsburg (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), the head coach of Canada’s 2008 National Junior Team this December, will be actively involved in the preparation and evaluation of Canada’s team for the Super Series, working closely with Sutter and his staff, along with head scout Jim Hammett.

“I am very excited about the group of players that we have assembled for the upcoming Super Series,” said Head Scout Jim Hammett. “This evaluation and selection process made it clear to me that Hockey Canada’s branches and Hockey Canada’s partner, the CHL, continue to do tremendous work in developing hockey talent across Canada.”

“As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to getting this group together in August and representing Canada proudly at this event,” said Team Canada Super Series Head Coach Brent Sutter. “These players will be taking part in hockey history this fall in this very unique international hockey event.”

Canada at the Super Series – Overview

• All players and staff will convene in Toronto, ON on August 20thand the Super Series will come to an end the evening of September 9.

• Team Canada will be departing for Russia on August 21.

• Canada will hold a pre-competition camp in Moscow from August 22 to 26.

• Games #1 and #2 vs. Russia will take place in Ufa, Russia on August 27 and 29.

• Games #3 and #4 vs. Russia will take place in Omsk, Russia on August 31 and September 1.

• Team Canada will return to Canada on September 2nd for Games no. 5 through 8.

• Game #5: Canada vs. Russia in Winnipeg, MB on September 4th

• Game #6: Canada vs. Russia in Saskatoon, SK on September 5

• Game #7: Canada vs. Russia in Red Deer, AB on September 7

• Game #8: Canada vs. Russia in Vancouver, BC on September 9

• Players and staff will be returning to their club teams and/or report to NHL training camps on September 10.

• Ticket information for all four Canadian games will be announced prior to July 15.

************************* Super Series Roster

GOALTENDERS Jonathan Bernier Laval, QC, CAN Lewiston Maineiacs/QMJHL

Leland Irving Swan Hills, AB, CAN Everett Silvertips/WHL Steve Mason Oakville, ON, CAN London Knights/OHL

DEFENCE Karl Alzner Burnaby, BC, CAN Calgary Hitmen/WHL Drew Doughty London, ON, CAN Guelph Storm/OHL Keaton Ellerby Calgary, AB, CAN Kamloops Blazers/WHL

Josh Godfrey Kingston, ON, CAN Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds/OHL

Thomas Hickey Calgary, AB, CAN Seattle Thunderbirds/WHL

Logan Pyett Milestone, SK, CAN Regina Pats/WHL

Luke Schenn Saskatoon, SK Kelowna Rockets/WHL

Ty Wishart Comox, BC, CAN Prince George Cougars/WHL

FORWARDS Zachary Boychuk Airdrie, AB, CAN Lethbridge Hurricanes/WHL

Cory Emmerton St. Thomas, ON, CAN Kingston Frontenacs/OHL

Angelo Esposito Montreal, QC, CAN Quebec Remparts/QMJHL

Sam Gagner Oakville, ON, CAN London Knights/OHL

Colton Gillies Surrey, BC, CAN Saskatoon Blades/WHL

Claude Giroux Ottawa, ON, CAN Gatineau Olympiques/QMJHL Zach Hamill Port Coquitlam, BC, CAN Everett Silvertips/WHL Stefan Legein Oakville, ON, CAN Mississauga Ice Dogs/OHL Milan Lucic Vancouver, BC, CAN Vancouver Giants/WHL

Brad Marchand Hammonds Plains, NS, CAN Foreurs de Val d'Or/QMJHL

David Perron Sherbrooke, QC, CAN Lewiston Maineiacs/QMJHL

Brandon Sutter Red Deer, AB, CAN Red Deer Rebels/WHL

John Tavares Oakville, ON, CAN Oshawa Generals/OHL

Kyle Turris New Westminster, BC, CAN Burnaby Express/BCHL

Dana Tyrell Airdrie, AB, CAN Prince George Cougars/WHL

COACHES Brent Sutter, Head Coach Red Deer, AB, CAN Red Deer Rebels Benoit Groulx, Assistant Coach Hull, QC, CAN Gatineau Olympiques Peter DeBoer, Assistant Coach Waterloo, ON, CAN Kitchener Rangers

STAFF Bob Nicholson, President Penticton, BC Johnny Misley, Vice president, Hockey Vancouver, BC Brad Pascall, Sr. Director, Men`s National Teams Coquitlam, BC Scott Salmond, Dir., Men’s National Team Creston, BC Jim Hammett, Head Scout Kelowna, BC Jamie Pringle, Video Coordinator Picton, ON Corey Hirsch, Goaltending Consultant Medicine Hat, AB Robin McDonald, Equipment manager Didsbury, AB André Brin, Media Relations Winnipeg, MB *************************