INNSBRUCK – Team Canada advanced to the ‘final four’ of the 2005 IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship after beating Slovakia 5-4 on Thursday. Canada’s record now stands at 5-1-1 at this year’s World Championship.

Canada’s top line of Nash, Gagne and Thornton led the way for Canada on Thursday.  Rick Nash, who currently leads the event in scoring with 14 points in 7 games, had 3 assists for Canada, while Simon Gagne had two goals and an assist, and Joe Thornton scored the winning goal and added an assist to beat Slovakia and to keep Canada alive.  Martin Brodeur made 21 saves to give Canada the win.

The team will travel to Vienna on Friday and will take on Russia on Saturday in the semi-finals of the Men’s World Hockey Championship.  Russia is undefeated to date at this year’s championship with a 5-0-2 record, including a shootout win against Finland in the quarter-final game on Thursday.

The winner of Saturday’s games (CAN vs. RUS and SWE vs. CZE) will move on to Sunday’s gold medal game, while the losers will play in Sunday’s bronze medal game.  Canada is vying to win three in a row World Hockey Championships, after winning gold at both the 20 world championships.

Canada’s semi-final game will take place on Saturday, , and will be broadcast LIVE by TSN and RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada, at 10am ET / 7am PT.  The FAN radio network will also be carrying Saturday’s game LIVE (check local listings for stations in your area).

Sweden will take on Czech Republic in Saturday’s other semi-final game.  TSN/RDS will also be broadcasting this game at 2pm ET / 11am PT.