CALGARY – Team Canada Executive Director Wayne Gretzky along with Head Coach Pat Quinn and Team Canada’s management and coaching staff, announced on Wednesday a long list of 81 potential players for Canada’s Men’s hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.

During the IIHF Olympic Meetings in Portugal on , the IOC, IIHF NHL, NHLPA and all participating men’s hockey countries came to an agreement, which determined that each country had until October 24th to submit a long list of players to the IIHF, NHL and NHLPA.

All participating countries are required to select their final Olympic men’s hockey rosters of 23 players, from these long lists, on or before December 22nd, as per the agreement.

Canada’s long list of 81 Canadian NHL players submitted on Wednesday includes:- nine (9) goaltenders
- 23 defensemen
- 49 forwards

“As a country, we are very lucky to have such a wealth of talented players to select from,” said Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada Executive Director.  “As a management and coaching staff, the task of reducing this list to 23 players will be challenging as we strive to defend Olympic Gold in Turin.”