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December 12, 2007
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CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Thursday the 22 players that
will make up Canada’s National Junior Team for the upcoming 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship.
To view Canada’s 2008 National Junior Team roster, Click Here
The team includes two players who won gold medals at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship and 16
members of Canada’s National Junior Team which posted a 7-0-1 record in the Canada/Russia Super Series in
August/September 2007 in Russia and Canada. Twenty-one of the players have previous international experience,
including 14 players who played with Canada’s National Under-18 Team and 14 who played with Canadian regional
Under-17 teams at either the World Under-17 Challenge or the Canada Winter Games.
Seventeen of the players named to final roster were drafted in either the 2006 or 2007 NHL Entry Draft,
including seven 1st round selections and six 2nd round selections. Four players are eligible for the 2008 NHL
Entry Draft while one player is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
“Congratulations to the twenty-two young men that were named today to Canada’s National Junior Team
roster,” said head coach Craig Hartsburg. ”As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to working with this
group over the coming days and building these players into a cohesive unit that will make Canada proud in the
Czech Republic.”
“This is an exciting day for the players, and Hockey Canada recognizes all the work that they have done to
get to this point,” said Brad Pascall, Senior Director, Men’s National Teams and Communications. “Hockey
Canada would also like to salute the Canadian Hockey League, the Hockey Canada branches, as well all the
coaches, parents, officials and volunteers who have played such a large part in these players’
development.”
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13th
When: 10 am
Where: Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire, Main entrance
When: 2:15 pm, prior to the team’s practice at 4:00 pm (a media availability will follow the practice as
well)
Where: Father David Bauer Olympic Arena
MEDIA AVAILABILITY ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th
This will be the team’s final media availability in Canada prior to departing for Europe
When: approximately 10:30 am – immediately following the team photo on ice
Where: Father David Bauer Olympic Arena, on-ice
PHONE INTERVIEWS
To request a phone interview prior to the team leaving for Europe, send an e-mail request in advance with
your contact information (name, affiliation, phone number) to HYPERLINK "mailto:abrin@hockeycanada.ca"
abrin@hockeycanada.ca. Please note that live interviews could be difficult to coordinate within the team’s
schedule over the next two days.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS WHILE IN EUROPE
Hockey Canada Manager, Communications André Brin, will be on-site with the team during pre-competition camp
and the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship to assist with media requests. Please take note of the time
difference between North America and Europe and make your request in advance to coordinate within the team’s
schedule and media requests on-site. Priority will be given to media requests on-site.
André Brin’s contact information in Europe :
e-mail - abrin@hockeycanada.ca
cell - 011 37 253 386 941
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Breakdown by the numbers:
Returning 2007 National Junior Team players: 2 - Karl Alzner, Brad Marchand
Program of Excellence experience:
Sixteen of the 22 players represented Canada in the 2007 Canada/Russia Super Series;
Fourteen of the 22 players have played for Canada’s National Under-18 Team;
Fourteen of the 22 players have been involved in Canada's Regional Under-17 Program of Excellence;
One player – Wayne Simmonds – will be taking part in his first international hockey experience.
By League:
8 players from the Western Hockey League (WHL)
10 players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
3 players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
1 player from U.S. College Hockey (NCAA)
Hockey Canada branch breakdown :
8 – Ontario Hockey Federation
3 – BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association
2 – Hockey Quebec, Ottawa District Hockey Association
1 – Hockey Nova Scotia
Leadership:
Four (4) players (Alzner, Hickey, Holzapfel, Pyett) are currently captains of their respective teams, and 11
players are alternate captains;
Vital statistics:
Average age: 18 years, 11 months, 28 days (as of Dec. 26, 2007);
By year of birth: 1988 (12 players); 1989 (8 players); 1990 (2 players)
Average height: 6’0”
Average weight: 187 lbs
Canada will play its first game of the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th
versus the Czech Republic at 2:00pm ET.
TSN/RDS, TSN HD and TSN.ca have live coverage of the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, airing December
26 to January 5 from the Czech Republic. Coverage features 11 games, including all Team Canada matches and
the medal round games. Following each Team Canada game, TSN.ca will stream a live post-game show. All games
will also be available on-demand on TSN.ca throughout the duration of the tournament.
Team Canada games will also be broadcast LIVE on the FAN radio network (check local listings).
Canada has medaled in nine straight World Junior Championships including: gold medal performances in 2007,
2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.
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