PIESTANY, SLOVAKIA – Head Coach Cory Clouston announced on Monday that forward Angelo Esposito (Montreal, QC/ Quebec, QMJHL) will serve as captain with Canada’s 2006 National Summer Under-18 Team, while Olivier Fortier (Quebec City, QC/ Rimouski, QMJHL), Colton Gillies (Surrey, BC/ Saskatoon, WHL) and John Negrin (West Vancouver, BC/ Kootenay, WHL) will serve as alternate captains for the upcoming 2006 Junior World Cup (also called the Ivan Hlinka Memorial) that will run from August 8-12, 2006 in Piestany, Slovakia and Breclav, Czech Republic.

Angelo Esposito captained Team Quebec to the 2006 World Under-17 Challenge Championship in Regina, SK in January 2006. The native of Montreal helped the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts to a Memorial Cup victory in Moncton. In his rookie QMJHL season last year, the 6’1”, 181 lb forward scored 98 points in 57 games, including 39 goals and 57 assists.

Olivier Fortier was a member of Quebec’s Under-17 Team which captured the 2006 World Under-17 Challenge. A 5’11.5”, 172 lb forward, the native of Quebec City, QC registered 16 points in his rookie season with the QMJHL’s RImouski Oceanic, after being acquired from the Drummondville Voltigeurs during the season.

Colton Gillies was team captain with Team Pacific at the 2006 World Under-17 Challenge, placing fifth. Gillies, a 6’4.5”, 188 lb forward, registered 12 points in his rookie WHL season with the Saskatoon Blades.

John Negrin, 6’2”, 198 lb defenceman, also played with Team Pacifc at the 2006 World Under-17 Challenge in Regina. Negrin registered 10 points with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice this past season.

Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team is one of two Under-18 Teams that Hockey Canada operates on an annual basis. In April, Canada’s World Championship Under-18 Team, comprised of players and staff members not involved in their respective league playoffs, will attend the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship