CALGARY, AB – Team Canada General Manager, Steve Tambellini, announced the first group of players that
will represent Canada at the 2003 IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship, taking place in Finland, April 26-.
Tambellini, along with Team Canada Assistant GM Don Maloney (NY Rangers) and Director, Player Personnel
Jim Nill (Detroit Red Wings) have named ten National Hockey League players in their first group of player
announcements.
The ten players, including three players from the Phoenix Coyotes, includes two goaltenders, one
defenseman and seven forwards:
Player |
Pos. |
Hometown |
NHL Team |
Joueur |
Pos. |
Ville dorigine |
Équipe LNH |
|
Sean Burke |
Goaltender |
Windsor, ON |
Phoenix Coyotes |
Roberto Luongo |
Goaltender |
Montreal, QC |
Florida Panthers |
Jay Bouwmeester |
Defense |
Edmonton, AB |
Florida Panthers |
Daniel Briere |
Forward |
Gatineau, QC |
Buffalo Sabres |
Kyle Calder |
Forward |
Mannville, AB |
Chicago Blackhawks |
Anson Carter |
Forward |
Toronto, ON |
New York Rangers |
Shane Doan |
Forward |
Halkirk, AB |
Phoenix Coyotes |
Chris Gratton |
Forward |
Brantford, ON |
Phoenix Coyotes |
Dany Heatley |
Forward |
Calgary, AB |
Atlanta Thrashers |
Patrick Marleau |
Forward |
Aneroid, SK |
San Jose Sharks |
* Additional players will be announced within the next few days and after the first round of the NHL
Playoffs
"We are very excited with the quality of the first group of players named today that will represent Team
Canada at the World Championship. The positive responses that we have been receiving from players and NHL
General Managers have been tremendous, "said GM, Steve Tambellini. “We will continue to name players to our
roster throughout this week and after the first round of the NHL playoffs.”
All ten players named have previous international experience. Andy Murray, Head Coach of the LA Kings,
will lead Canada behind the bench as Head Coach, while Mike Pelino (CHA), Barry Trotz (Nashville) and Rob
Cookson (Calgary) will be assistant coaches.
Burke, who was a finalist last season for both the Vezina Trophy (NHL's outstanding goaltender) and the
Lester B. Pearson Award (NHL's most outstanding player as voted by the players) has participated at four
World Championships (1997 (gold), 1991, 1989 (silver), 1987), and was a member of Team Canada at two Olympic
games (1992 (silver) and 1988), spare goaltender at the 1991 Canada Cup, and a member of Canada’s National
Junior team in 1986 (silver).
Luongo was a member of the 2001 World Championship team in Germany, and won a silver medal as a member of
Canada’s 1999 World Junior team.
Bouwmeester, who has just completed his 1st NHL season, participated for Canada at three World Junior
Championships (2002, 2001, 2000) winning a silver medal and two bronze medals. He became the youngest player
all-time to play for Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2000 (16 years, 3 months).
Briere won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 1997 World Junior Championship, while Calder captured a
silver medal as a member of Team Canada at the 1999 World Junior Championship and also represented Canada at
last year’s Men’s World Championship in Sweden.
Carter has twice won gold medals for Canada - 1994 World Junior Championship and 1997 World
Championship.
Doan, who finished second in scoring for the Phoenix Coyotes this season, was a member of Team Canada at
the 1999 Men’s Worlds.
Gratton won a gold medal at the 1993 World Junior Championship, and has participated at two previous Men’s
Worlds events: 1998 and the gold medal team in 1997.
Heatley, who scored 41 goals for the Atlanta Thrashers and was MVP of the 2003 NHL All-Star Game,
represented Canada at last year’s Men’s World Championship in Sweden, and was a member of Team Canada at the
20 World Juniors, winning two bronze medals.
This year’s event will mark the fourth time that Marleau has represented Canada in an international hockey
competition, having played for Canada at 2001 World Hockey Championship in Germany, the 1999 World Hockey
Championship in Norway, and he won a gold medal with Canada’s National Under-18 Team at the 1996 Pacific
Cup.
Canada won two gold medals in the 1990's at the World Hockey Championship - 1994 and again in 1997. Canada
finished sixth last year at the Men's World Hockey Championship in Sweden.
At this year’s Championship in Finland, Canada is in a preliminary round group with: Belarus, Latvia and
Sweden. Canada's first game at the 2003 IIHF World Hockey Championship will take place in Turku, Finland on
April 26 versus Belarus.
The official broadcaster of the CHA, TSN/RDS, will have live TV coverage of the Men’s Worlds, beginning
with Canada’s third game of the championship (April 29th vs. Sweden). They will not be broadcasting Canada’s
games vs. Belarus (April 26) or vs. Latvia (April 27).