December 16, 2003
NR.115

CANADA'S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM
RELEASES FINAL SIX PLAYERS

KITCHENER (ONTARIO) - Canada's National Junior Team trimmed its roster by six players on Tuesday morning and returning the six players to their respective Canadian Hockey League teams.

Players released were:
• Kyle Brodziak (Moose Jaw, WHL)
• Mike Egener (Calgary, WHL)
• Corey Perry (London, OHL)
• Cam Ward (Red Deer, WHL)
• Ian White (Swift Current, WHL)
• Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (Chicoutimi, QMJHL)

Canada’s National Junior Team final roster of 22 players (2 goaltenders, 7 defencemen and 13 forwards) will be formally announced later this morning. The six-day selection camp served to choose the team that will represent Canada at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland from December 26, 2003 - January 5, 2004.

Team Canada’s Head Coach Mario Durocher (Lewiston MAINEiacs, QMJHL), with assistant coaches Dean Chynoweth (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL) and Jim Hulton (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL), along with Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada’s Head Scout, have been evaluating the players through daily work-outs and intra-squad games.

Canada's National Junior Team will be made available to the media today, Tuesday, December 16th, 2003 at 10:30 am the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud). Canada will practice twice on Wednesday, December 17th, 2003 (10:15-11:45 am; 4:15-5:45 pm) and one final time on Thursday, December 17th, 2003 (9:45-11:15 am) prior to departing for Finland later that day.

Check out www.hockeycanada.ca for the latest information on Team Canada and the 2004 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.