CALGARY, AB - Cliff Fletcher of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, has been named General Manager of Team Canada for the 2000 Men's World Hockey Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia, Canadian Hockey Association President Bob Nicholson announced Monday.

Fletcher is currently Tampa Bay Lightning's Senior Advisor under Lightning General Manager Rick Dudley. Prior to joining the Lightning, Fletcher served from 1991-1997 as Chief Operating Officer, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was named by 'The Hockey News' in 1993 as Man of the Year and Executive of the Year.

Canada won the Men's World Championship twice in 1990's, winning a gold medal in both 1994 and 1997. Canada won a silver medal in 1992 and 1996, a bronze medal in 1995 and finished 4th place last year. This year's Men's World Championship will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia from April 28- May 14, 2000.

A native of Montreal, Fletcher was the General Manager in the Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames first 19 years of existence, overseeing the beginning of the Atlanta NHL franchise and the transfer of the franchise to Calgary in 1980. Over eleven seasons in Calgary with Fletcher at the helm, the club won the NHL Presidents' Trophy twice, two NHL Campbell Conference titles and captured the Stanley Cup in 1989.

Fletcher's previous international experience was when he served as general manager of Team Canada at the 1981 Canada Cup.

"With Cliff's expertise and knowledge of both the international game and the NHL player, we believe we have improved our ability to succeed in Russia," said Tom Renney, Vice-president, Hockey and Head Coach of the National Men's team, for the Canadian Hockey Association. "Our staff has been working on putting a strong team together for this year's World's: from the support staff right through to the players, and Cliff certainly is a terrific addition."

"It's always an honour to represent your country and I am excited to be involved with Canada's Men's World Championship team, " said Cliff Fletcher. "The Men's Worlds are a terrific event and I hope we will recruit and select the best players available that will help us compete for a gold medal."

Current National Team Head coach and general manager Tom Renney will serve as head coach for Team Canada in Russia. Mike Pelino, currently an assistant coach with Canada's National Men's team will be an assistant under Renney at the 2000 Worlds, with another coach to be named later. The entire coaching and support staff will be confirmed later this month. Players for Canada's entry into this year's championship will begin to be named in the next three to four weeks.