CALGARY, AB -- The support staffs for Canada's 1997-98 National Junior Team, as well as the Under-18 Team were announced Friday by Canadian Hockey.

Darcy Bishop, 25, of the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League has been named the athletic therapist for the National Junior Team, which will compete at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland next December.

The equipment manager will be Blaine Whyte, 28, of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades and the team physician will be Dr. Donald Plouffe, 58, who is the team doctor for the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Paul Shilton, 26, the equipment manager with the Belleville Bulls, will assist Whyte at the summer evaluation camp, which will be held at the Ice Gardens in North York, ON from August 8-14.

Robin McDonald, 29, has been named equipment manager of the Under-18 team. McDonald has been the equipment manager of the University of Calgary Dinosaurs club for the last 10 years.

Rick Chamney, 27, the athletic therapist with the Edmonton Ice of the WHL, will fill that role with the Under-18 team, while Dr. Don Shamer, 43, of the Sault Ste-Marie Greyhounds will be serve as team physician.

The Under-18 team will hold its pre-tournament camp at the Ice Gardens from August 6-10 before flying to the Czech Republic for three-nation tournament involving Canada, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.