August 7, 2003
NR.072

CANADA’S NATIONAL UNDER-18 SUMMER ROSTER NAMED FOR THE 2003 U18 JUNIOR WORLD CUP IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

CALGARY, ALBERTA – On Thursday, Hockey Canada, along with the Canadian Hockey League, named the 22 players that will form Canada’s National Under-18 Team for the upcoming Under-18 Junior World Cup in the Czech Republic from August 11-16, 2003.

Canada will be shooting for an 8th straight international Under-18 Summer Event gold medal having captured gold at all seven previous events.

The naming of the 22 player roster comes after a week-long development camp held in Calgary, AB which saw 40 of Canada’s top under-18 players vying for a spot on Team Canada. Head Coach Bob Lowes (Regina, WHL) and assistants Dave Cameron (Toronto St. Michael’s, OHL) and Pascal Vincent (Cape Breton, QMJHL) along with Hockey Canada’s Head Scout, Blair Mackasey conducted evaluations throughout the week.

"It’s been a very competitive development camp and the players named today should be very proud of their accomplishment," said Lowes. "I’ve been very happy with the talent level and caliber of play during our Red/White games. The players and staff are looking forward to representing Canada in the Czech Republic."

The Under-18 program and the Summer Development Camp are part of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence beginning with the regional Under-17 teams and ending with the National Junior Team. The primary objectives of the Under-18 program are to identify, evaluate and condition players to the rigors of international competition by giving them their first exposure to international hockey, international officiating, larger ice surfaces, and travel. Many of these Under-18 players will move on to play with Canada’s National Junior team, and many will be high NHL draft picks in 2004.

Fifteen players were released from Canada’s Under-18 Development Camp on Thursday morning. Three players returned to their club teams due to injury: Joe Barnes (lower back); Maxime Bélanger (knee); Colin Stone (shoulder)

These released players will continue to be evaluated and monitored along with other under-18 Canadian players for possible future involvement in the Program of Excellence. This could come as early as the 2004 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in April, 2004 in Minsk, Belarus.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: A team photo will be taken at the Father David Bauer Arena at 9 am (Mountain Time). Players and staff will be available for on-site media interviews after the photo, as well as after their practice which will run from 10-11 am (Mountain Time). For phone interviews, please contact either André Brin (403-703-8791) or Sean Kelso (403-880-5819)

The 22 players, along with the staff, will be flying out of Calgary, AB on Thursday, August 6th at 7 pm (MT) on Air Canada Flight 850, for London, England.