Helsinki, Finland – Team Canada’s captain, Ryan Smyth, has set a new Team Canada record by playing in his 41st all-time game for Canada at the Men’s World Hockey Championship.

The record comes during Canada’s semi-final game on Friday versus the Czech Republic at the Hartwell Arena in Helsinki, Finland. The winning team of Canada’s semi-final game this afternoon will move on to Sunday’s gold medal game vs. either Slovakia or Sweden, while the losing teams will play on Saturday in the bronze medal game.

Smyth tied the previous record of 40 all-time games played during Canada’s quarter-final win over Germany on Wednesday in Turku, Finland. The record was held by Buffalo Sabres defenseman James Patrick. Patrick broke the record last year in Sweden, breaking the Canadian record of 37 games previously set by Kevin Dineen, Marcel Dionne and Kirk Muller.

Smyth is currently playing in his fifth straight world championship for Canada and entered this year's event tied for ninth all-time in games played with Jeff Friesen at 33 games.

ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED – TEAM CANADA AT THE MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:

1.Ryan Smyth41 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

2.James Patrick 40 1983, 1987, 1989, 1998, 2002

3.Kevin Dineen 37 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993

4.Marcel Dionne 37 1978, 1979, 1983, 1986

5.Kirk Muller 37 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989

6.Rob Blake 36 1991, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999

7.Mike Gartner 35 1981, 1982, 1983, 1993

8.Dennis Maruk 35 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983

9.Rick Green 34 1979, 1981, 1982, 1990

10.Jeff Friesen 33 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001

Canada won two gold medals in the 1990's at the World Hockey Championship – in 1994 and again in 1997. Canada finished sixth last year at the Men's World Hockey Championship in Sweden, but will finish in the top four of this year’s championship with the win on Wednesday.