OTTAWA, ON – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Monday the 22 players that will make up Canada's National Junior Team for the upcoming 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.

Canada's National Junior Team includes four players (Boychuk, Hickey, Subban, Tavares) who won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Eighteen of the players have previous international experience, including 12 players who played with Canada's National Under-18 Team and 18 who played with Canadian regional Under-17 teams at either the World Under-17 Challenge or the Canada Winter Games.

Twenty of the players named to the final roster were drafted in either the 20 NHL Entry Draft, including 10 first-round selections and four second-round selections. Two players are eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Canada will play its first game of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th versus the Czech Republic.

TSN, TSN HD and TSN.ca, along with RDS, RDS HD and RDS.ca have live coverage of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, airing December 26 to January 5 from Ottawa.

Team Canada games will also be broadcast LIVE on the FAN radio network (check local listings).

Canada has medaled in 10-straight World Junior Championships including: gold medal performances in 2008, 2007, 20, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 20.

CANADA'S 2009 NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM BY THE NUMBERS

Returning 2008 National Junior Team players – 4
Zach Boychuk, Thomas Hickey, PK Subban, John Tavares

Players who took part in the ADT CHL Canada/Russia Challenge – 20
G – Allen, Pickard, Tokarski
D – Aulie, Ellis, Hickey, Myers, Pietrangelo, Subban, Teubert
F – Benn, Boychuk, Cormier, Della Rovere, Eberle, Ennis, Esposito, Hodgson, Sonne, Tavares, Tyrell

Minor Hockey / Hockey Canada branch breakdown:
8 – Ontario Hockey Federation
5 – Hockey Alberta
3 – BC Hockey
3 – Saskatchewan Hockey Association
1 – Hockey Manitoba
1 – Hockey Quebec
1 – Hockey New Brunswick

Where they are playing:
12 players from the Western Hockey League (WHL)
6 players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
3 players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
1 player from U.S. College Hockey (NCAA)

Program of Excellence experience:
Twelve (12) of the 22 players have played for Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team

Eighteen (18) of the 22 players have been involved in Canada's regional under-17 program

Four players – Benn, DiDomenico, Pickard, Tokarski – will be representing Canada for the first time with a regional or national team.

Leadership:
Six (6) players (Aulie, Della Rovere, Hickey, Hodgson, Pietrangelo, Tyrell) are currently captains of their respective CHL teams, and nine (9) players are alternate captains

Vital statistics:
Average age: 19 years, 1 month, 9 days (as of Dec.)
By year of birth: 1989 (13 players), 1990 (8 players), 1991 (1 player)
Average height: 6'0"
Average weight: 193 lbs

NHL Entry Draft information:
Twenty (20) of the 22 players on the final roster have been drafted in either the 20 NHL Entry Drafts

Ten of the twenty NHL drafted players were first-round NHL selection, four (4) players are second-round NHL picks, and one was selected in the third round

Two undrafted players are on Canada's roster, both are eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.