RIGA, LATVIA – Team Canada General Manager Ken Holland (Vernon, BC/Detroit Red Wings) and Assistant General Manager Mike Barnett (Olds, AB/ Phoenix Coyotes) announced on Thursday the addition of three NHL players to Team Canada for the 2006 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia from May 5-21, 2006.

The three NHL players are forwards Jeff Carter (London, ON/Philadelphia Flyers), Michael Richards (Kenora, ON/Philadelphia Flyers) and Jason Williams (London, ON/Detroit Red Wings).  All three players are expected to arrive in Latvia in time for Canada’s first game at the World Championship, on May 5th vs. Denmark.

Canada’s World Championship roster of NHL players now stands at 15 players, including two goaltenders, four defencemen and nine forwards.  A full roster can include up to 25 players at the World Championship.

Four members of Canada’s National Team continue to train with the team and could be officially added to the roster. 

Over the coming days, with the first round of the NHL playoffs now concluded, Holland, along with Assistant General Manager Barnett, Head Coach Marc Habscheid (Swift Current, SK/ Hockey Canada) and assistant coaches Claude Julien (Blind River, ON/ Hockey Canada) and Trent Yawney (Hudson Bay, SK/ Chicago Blackhawks) will look to name additional NHL players to complete Canada’s 25 player roster for the World Championship.

Canada’s World Championship Team trains to Riga on Thursday, May 4th.   Canada’s World Championship Team will open the 2006 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Riga, Latvia on May 5th versus Denmark.  All of Canada’s games will be broadcast live from Latvia on TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada.  Canada will play in the preliminary round in a group that includes Denmark, Norway and the USA. 

For further information on Canada’s 2006 Men’s World Championship team, and the IIHF Men’s World Championship, go to Hockey Canada’s official website at www.hockeycanada.ca