Simmonds, Godfrey make Team Canada

NEWS RELEASES

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE HOCKEY CANADA

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OHL stars to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships

The Ontario Hockey League will be well represented when Team Canada opens the 2008 World Junior Championships this Christmas in the Czech Republic.

Canadian coach Craig Hartsburg of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds included 10 OHL stars when he announced his 22 player lineup on Thursday in Calgary.

OHL scoring leader John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals made the team after missing the cut last year as a 16 year old. Top draft prospects Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting and Drew Doughty of the Guelph Storm were also named to the roster.

Forwards Stefan Legein of the Niagara IceDogs, Shawn Matthias of the Belleville Bulls, Matt Halischuk of the Kitchener Rangers and Wayne Simmonds of the Greyhounds were named to the roster, along with defencemen Josh Godfrey of the Greyhounds and P.K. Subban of the Belleville Bulls and goalie Steve Mason of the London Knights.

“Congratulations to the twenty-two young men that were named today to Canada’s National Junior Team roster,” Hartsburg said. ”As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to working with this group over the coming days and building these players into a cohesive unit that will make Canada proud in the Czech Republic.”

Brett MacLean of the Generals was among the final cuts made on Thursday while Nick Spaling of the Kitchener Rangers and Cory Emmerton of the Brampton Battalion left camp early after being diagnosed with mononucleosis.

Canada has won three straight gold medals and begin their quest for their fourth on Boxing Day (2:00 p.m. Eastern on TSN and the Fan radio network) against the host Czech Recpublic.

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Canada’s National Junior Team Roster Named For 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Thursday the 22 players that will make up Canada’s National Junior Team for the upcoming 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The team includes two players who won gold medals at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship and 16 members of Canada’s National Junior Team which posted a 7-0-1 record in the Canada/Russia Super Series in August/September 2007 in Russia and Canada. Twenty-one of the players have previous international experience, including 14 players who played with Canada’s National Under-18 Team and 14 who played with Canadian regional Under-17 teams at either the World Under-17 Challenge or the Canada Winter Games.

Seventeen of the players named to final roster were drafted in either the 2006 or 2007 NHL Entry Draft, including seven 1st round selections and six 2nd round selections. Four players are eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft while one player is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

“Congratulations to the twenty-two young men that were named today to Canada’s National Junior Team roster,” said head coach Craig Hartsburg. ”As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to working with this group over the coming days and building these players into a cohesive unit that will make Canada proud in the Czech Republic.”

“This is an exciting day for the players, and Hockey Canada recognizes all the work that they have done to get to this point,” said Brad Pascall, Senior Director, Men’s National Teams and Communications. “Hockey Canada would also like to salute the Canadian Hockey League, the Hockey Canada branches, as well all the coaches, parents, officials and volunteers who have played such a large part in these players’ development.”

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Breakdown by the numbers:

Returning 2007 National Junior Team players: 2 - Karl Alzner, Brad Marchand

Program of Excellence experience: Sixteen of the 22 players represented Canada in the 2007 Canada/Russia Super Series; Fourteen of the 22 players have played for Canada’s National Under-18 Team; Fourteen of the 22 players have been involved in Canada's Regional Under-17 Program of Excellence; One player – Wayne Simmonds – will be taking part in his first international hockey experience.

By League: 8 players from the Western Hockey League (WHL) 10 players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) 3 players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) 1 player from U.S. College Hockey (NCAA)

Hockey Canada branch breakdown : 8 – Ontario Hockey Federation 3 – BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association 2 – Hockey Quebec, Ottawa District Hockey Association 1 – Hockey Nova Scotia

Leadership: Four (4) players (Alzner, Hickey, Holzapfel, Pyett) are currently captains of their respective teams, and 11 players are alternate captains;

Vital statistics: Average age: 18 years, 11 months, 28 days (as of Dec. 26, 2007); By year of birth: 1988 (12 players); 1989 (8 players); 1990 (2 players) Average height: 6’0” Average weight: 187 lbs

Canada will play its first game of the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th versus the Czech Republic at 2:00pm ET.

TSN/RDS, TSN HD and TSN.ca have live coverage of the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, airing December 26 to January 5 from the Czech Republic. Coverage features 11 games, including all Team Canada matches and the medal round games. Following each Team Canada game, TSN.ca will stream a live post-game show. All games will also be available on-demand on TSN.ca throughout the duration of the tournament.

Team Canada games will also be broadcast LIVE on the FAN radio network (check local listings).

Canada has medaled in nine straight World Junior Championships including: gold medal performances in 2007, 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.

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Thirteen Players Released From Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Thursday that 13 players were released from Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp on Thursday, December 13th and returned to their respective club teams.

The thirteen players released were: goaltenders Leland Irving (Swan Hills, AB/ Everett, WHL) and Tyson Sexsmith (Priddis, AB/ Vancouver, WHL); defencemen Andrew Bodnarchuk (Hammonds Plains, NS/ Halifax, QMJHL), Keaton Ellerby (Calgary, AB/ Moose Jaw, WHL), Kevin Marshall (Boucherville, QC/ Lewiston, QMJHL), Brendan Smith (Toronto, ON/ Wisconsin, WCHA) and Ty Wishart (Comox, BC/ Prince George, WHL); forwards Angelo Esposito (Montreal, QC/ Quebec, QMJHL), Zach Hamill (Port Coquitlam, BC/ Everett, WHL), Brett MacLean (Port Elgin, ON/ Oshawa, OHL), Matthieu Perreault (Drummondville, QC/ Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL), Dana Tyrell (Airdrie, AB/ Prince George, WHL) and Ryan White (Brandon, MB/ Calgary, WHL).

With these player releases, the National Junior Team roster has now been set at 22 players, including two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards.

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