NORTH YORK, ON - Canada's National Junior Team has released five players: defencemen Antoine Bergeron, Kurtis Foster and Jonathan Zion and forwards Alexandre Giroux and Nathan Smith, Head Coach Stan Butler announced on Saturday bringing the roster to 29 players.

The five players were returned to their respective Canadian Hockey League teams. Bergeron to the Val d'Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Foster to the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, Zion to the Ottawa 67's of the OHL, Giroux to the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL and Smith to the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL.

The roster deletions reduced the National Junior Team Selection Camp roster to 29 players after three days of the six day camp to choose the team that will represent Canada at the 2001 World Junior Hockey Championship in Russia from December 26, 2000 - January 5, 2001. The team will take 22 players - 20 skaters and two goaltenders - to the World Junior Championship.

Butler (Brampton Battalion, OHL) and assistant coaches Kevin Dickie (Saskatoon Blades, OHL) and Mike Kelly (North Bay Centennials, OHL), along with Barry Trapp, Canadian Hockey's Director of Scouting, have been evaluating the players as they have now been through daily work-outs and two intra-squad games.

Canada's National Junior Team returns to the ice this morning with a 10:00 am practice at the Beatrice Ice Gardens on the York University Campus.

Tonight, an OUA All-Star Team will provide the opposition in a game at the Beatrice Ice Gardens. Game time will be 5:30 pm.

The official web site of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship is www.canadianhockey.ca. www.canadianhockey.ca will have the most up to date information on the WJHC from Russia, including a daily journal, behind the scene photos, contests, player profiles, and much more. Check out www.canadianhockey.ca for the latest information on Canada's team at the World Junior Championship.