CALGARY, ALTA -- Vancouver Canucks' president and general manager Pat Quinn has joined Team Canada's management team for the 1997 World Hockey Championship, Bob Nicholson, Canadian Hockey's senior vice-president, hockey operations announced Friday.

Quinn will travel with Team Canada to Finland, where the 1997 World Championship will be held from April 26 -- May 14 in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. Canada, which won silver in 1996, bronze in 1995, and gold in 1994 will be attempting to return to the medal podium for a fourth straight year. Since 1920, Canada has won 19 gold medals and 37 medals in all, including 10 silver and eight bronze.

Canada's entry at the 1997 tournament is led by general manager Bob Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyer and assistants Bob Gainey, GM of the Dallas Stars, and Pierre Gauthier, the Ottawa Senators' GM.

'We're delighted that Pat has agreed to work with our management committee,' said Nicholson from Winnipeg, where Team Canada will play a pair of pre-tournament games against Team USA on Saturday and Sunday. 'Pat brings a wealth of experience to our team and becomes a key resource for our entire staff to lean on during the championship.

'Pat's contribution to Canada's World Cup of Hockey effort was significant and we expect him to provide similar support in Finland. In addition to his managerial expertise, Pat coached Team Canada in 1986 when the club brought home a bronze medal from Moscow.

'Canada, which opens the eight-team tournament on April 26 in Turku against Norway, will be coached by full-time National Team head coach Andy Murray, along with Mike Johnston, GM and associate coach of the full-time National Team, and Wayne Cashman, assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks.

Clarke and Murray already have selected a 22-man roster, led by goaltender Sean Burke of the Hartford Whalers, defenceman Rob Blake of the Los Angeles Kings, as well as forwards Owen Nolan of the San Jose Sharks, Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, Geoff Sanderson of the Whalers and Travis Green of the New York Islanders.

The roster limit is 23 players, and Clarke has the option to add a final player, probably chosen from among the teams eliminated early from the Stanley Cup playoffs, at any time