CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday Canada’s National Men’s team roster for the 2004 Loto Cup, held in Piestany, Slovakia from December 16-18, 2004.

Canada will be entering the 2004 Loto Cup as defending champions having beaten the host Slovakian team last year 4-3, finishing with a record of 2-0-1 record.

Canada will play three games in the 2004 Loto Cup: Dec. 16 vs. Austria; Dec. 17 vs. Switzerland and Dec. 18 vs. Slovakia, along with a pre-competition game on Dec. 14 vs. Slovakia.

Canada’s Loto Cup roster features a wealth of previous international experience,  including three former full time National Team Players (Norris, Savoia, and Selmser), as well as four former World Junior players (Craig, Domenichelli, Tkaczuk, and Werenka).

Hockey Canada’s Vice-president, Hockey Johnny Misley and National Men’s Team Manager Scott Salmond along with Team Canada Head Coach Marc Habscheid have put together Canada’s Loto Cup roster made up of Canadian born players playing in Europe, along with the addition of players on loan from AHL and CIS teams. This year’s Loto Cup team features players from 10 different leagues (Austrian Elite League, CIS, British Elite League, American Hockey League, Denmark Elite League, Italian Elite League, Finnish Elite League, Sweden Division 2, Swiss National A League, and the Norwegian Elite League)

“We have branched out to a few different leagues this year to make sure we get a good look at potential National team players for the 2005-06 season and potentially the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, “ said Misley. “This is a great opportunity for these players to represent their country, and we thank the various teams for making these players available to our National Team.“

Marc Habscheid, who was named as Canada’s full time Men’s National Team Head Coach on , has named Edmonton Oilers Head Coach, Craig MacTavish to be an assistant coach for the Loto Cup.

“We are thrilled to have someone like Craig join our coaching staff for this event, “ said Canada’s Head Coach, Marc Habscheid. “He brings a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach which will add a great dimension to our team, and I know our players and staff will greatly benefit from having Craig join Team Canada for this event.”

Dave Adolph, Head Coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (CIS) and Jim Boni, Head Coach of Vienna in the Austrian Elite League, will also be assistant coaches for Canada at the Loto Cup under Habscheid.

As originally stated in a October 27th Hockey Canada news release, the tournaments that the National Men’s Team participates in up until , Hockey Canada is committed to using non NHL locked out players so an evaluation process can be completed on Canadian players playing in Europe and in North American minor pro leagues for potential involvement if needed for the 2005 Men’s World Championship and the 2006 Winter Olympics.