CALGARY - Canadian Hockey announced today that Tom Renney has resigned as head coach of Canada's national hockey team and has accepted the position of head coach with the Vancouver Canucks effective immediately.

Renney has been with Canada's national hockey team since 1992 serving as head coach of Canada's 1994 silver medal Olympic hockey team, and Canada's bronze medal 1995 and silver medal 1996 World Championship teams. He also served as assistant coach of Canada's gold medal winning 1994 World Championship team.

The 41-year old native of Cranbrook, B.C. first entered into international hockey in the summer of 1992 as head coach of Canada's under 18 team winning the Phoenix Cup in Japan, after leading the Kamloops Blazers to the Canadian Hockey League's Memorial Cup in 1991-92.

"Tom's dedication and contribution to Canada's national team program was outstanding," comments Bob Nicholson, Canadian Hockey's senior vice-president, hockey operations. "He is an excellent coach and an excellent person."

"We will commence the process of selecting Tom's replacement immediately," adds Nicholson.

The national team program was re-established on a full-time basis in 1985. The 1996-97 season will mark the twelfth season for Canada's full-time national team program. Before Renney joined the national team, Dave King coached Team Canada for seven of twelve seasons.

The 1996-97 national team schedule will feature the Izvestia Cup in December, the Sweden Hockey Games in February, as well as international events in Canada and throughout Europe.

Renney is currently on his way to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to run Canada's national team evaluation camp and will be in Vancouver on for a Canucks news conference.