CALGARY, ALBERTA - Chris Nielsen, of Goodlands, MB, has replaced injured Rico Fata, of Sault Ste. Marie, ON, at National Junior Team's Evaluation Camp, the Canadian Hockey Association announced on Tuesday.

Fata was a member of the silver medal winning Canadian Team at the 1999 World Junior Hockey Championship. He injured his elbow during a conditioning camp last week in Finland, while attending the camp with other NHL Prospects.

Nielsen, 6Õ2, 185 lb centre/right winger, was a member of the WHL champion Calgary Hitmen in 1998-1999, tallying 22 goals, 24 assists and 46 points in 70 games. Nielsen followed his regular season up with 11 goals in 21 playoff games.

"Chris is a very solid two-way player," said Barry Trapp, Director of Scouting, Canadian Hockey Association."He's capable of scoring big goals and proved at last year's Memorial Cup that he performs well to pressure situations."

Fata remains in consideration for the National Junior Team's Selection Camp December 12-17, 1999. Trapp will continue to monitor and evaluate the players at this week's evaluation camp in Toronto, as well as others through the first half of the season to determine the 32 players that will be invited to the December camp.

Forty players are currently attending the National Junior Team's Evaluation Camp being held at the Beatrice Ice Gardens at the York University in Toronto, ON. The camp runs until August 9. For further information, call the Camp's head office at 416-665-1973.