April 24, 2008
NR.063

TEAM CANADA NAMES ADDITIONAL PLAYERS
FOR 2008 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
IN HALIFAX AND QUEBEC CITY

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada announced nine additional players, including two alternates, to Canada’s roster for the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Halifax and Quebec City, which begins on May 2nd.

Yzerman and Team Canada’s management expect to announce two additional defencemen in the coming days.

The players named today by GM Steve Yzerman and assistant GMs Doug Armstrong and Luc Robitaille are: goaltender Mathieu Garon, defencemen Brent Burns and Ed Jovanovski and forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Dany Heatley, Chris Kunitz and Jason Spezza. The two Team Canada alternates named today are defenceman Mark Giordano and forward Sam Gagner.

Hockey Canada also announced that three players from the National Junior Team that competed at the 2007 Super Series – defenceman Logan Pyett and forwards Cory Emmerton and Kyle Turris – will join Team Canada for training camp purposes only.

Team Canada will gather in Quebec City today for a pre-competition camp consisting of practices and two exhibition games (April 26th vs. Finland and April 28th vs. Russia). Both games will take place at Le Colisée and tickets are on sale now at  www.billetech.com, Le Colisée Pepsi ticket office or by calling (418) 691-7211.

TEAM CANADA ROSTER, as of April 24, 2008 - Click Here

Canada’s head coach is Ken Hitchcock (Sherwood Park, AB/ Columbus, NHL), and he will be joined by assistant coaches Pat Burns (St-Henri, QC/ New Jersey, NHL), Mike Johnston (Dartmouth, NS/ Los Angeles, NHL) and Craig MacTavish (London, ON/ Edmonton, NHL).

Canada will open up the 2008 IIHF World Championship on May 2nd against Slovenia. TSN/RDS will carry all of Canada’s games (check your local listings for times in your area) and The Fan Radio Network will provide radio coverage of Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Championship.

The 2008 IIHF World Championship marks the first time that Canada has hosted the IIHF’s marquee event. This year’s Championship has added significance, because the IIHF World Rankings at the conclusion of this year’s World Championship will determine seeding for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Canada heads into the 2008 IIHF World Championship ranked third, behind Sweden and Finland.

TICKET INFORMATION FOR 2008 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Tickets are still available for the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship. For games in Halifax, go to www.ticketatlantic.com, the Ticket Atlantic Box Office at the Halifax Metro Centre or call (902) 451-1221. For games in Quebec City, including the medal round, go to www.billetech.com, the Colisée Pepsi ticket office or call (418) 691-7211.

Exhibition games at Le Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City – April 26th: Canada vs. Finland; April 28th: Canada vs. Russia. For tickets, go to  www.billetech.com, Le Colisée Pepsi ticket office or call (418) 691-7211.

The 2008 IIHF World Championship will be held in Halifax, NS and Quebec City, QC, between May 2nd and 18th. This is the first time the event will be held in Canada and it will occur during the IIHF’s 100th anniversary. Tickets are still available for games in both markets.

» 2008 IIHF World Championship