SASKATOON, Sask. – On Wednesday, Hockey Canada announced the Men’s Olympic hockey roster that will be nominated to the Canadian Olympic Team. The announcement was made at a press conference in Saskatoon, Sask. that was broadcast live on 13 networks in partnership with Canada’s Olympic Media Broadcast Consortium.

Canada’s men’s hockey team executive director Steve Yzerman (Nepean, Ont./Detroit, NHL) made the announcement, along with all the members of the team’s management staff: Bob Nicholson (President/CEO, Hockey Canada), Johnny Misley (Executive vice-president, hockey operations, Hockey Canada) and associate directors Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, Ont./ St. Louis, NHL), Ken Holland (Vernon, B.C./ Detroit, NHL), Kevin Lowe (Lachute, Que./ Edmonton, NHL) as well as head coach Mike Babcock (Saskatoon, Sask./Detroit, NHL).

Canada’s roster includes three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards.

All 23 players have international experience, including 53 gold medals, eight Olympians and, as a group, the players have played in 702 international games, 13,136 NHL regular season games and 1,219 NHL playoff games.

The management group also announced on Wednesday that Scott Niedermayer (Cranbrook, B.C./Anaheim, NHL) will be Canada’s captain in Vancouver, while Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, N.S./Pittsburgh, NHL), Jarome Iginla (St. Albert, Alta./Calgary, NHL) and Chris Pronger (Dryden, Ont./Philadelphia, NHL) will serve as alternate captains.

Canada’s Women’s Hockey roster for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games was announced on December 21, while the National Sledge Hockey roster for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will be announced on January 4 in Saskatoon.