CALGARY, ALBERTA - Defenceman Steve McCarthy will be unable to attend the National Junior Team Evaluation Camp from August 3-10, 2000 due to a shoulder injury, the Canadian Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Thursday.

McCarthy, a native of Cranbrook, BC, was a member of Canada's bronze medal winning National Junior Team at the 2000 World Junior Hockey Championship in Skelleftea, Sweden. The captain of the WHL's Kootenay Ice suffered a season ending shoulder injury during the WHL regular season, and continues to recover. No players have been added to the camp.

The National Junior Team Evaluation Camp opens today in Calgary, AB with 40 of Canada's top junior hockey players on hand. The Red team takes the ice at 6 pm at the Father Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary and is followed by the White team at 7:45 pm. Rosters and a complete schedule for the camp are available on site and on the Canadian Hockey Association's website at www.canadianhockey.ca

McCarthy will remain in consideration for the National Junior Team's Selection Camp in December, 2000. The CHA's Director, Scouting, Barry Trapp will monitor and evaluate the players at this week's evaluation camp in Calgary, as well as others, including McCarthy, through the first half of the season to determine which 32 players will be invited to the December camp.