CALGARY, AB – Jim Nill, Team Canada’s General Manager for the 2004 IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship, announced on Wednesday that Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald will join Assistant General Manager Don Maloney and Nill on Team Canada’s management staff for the Men’s Worlds in 2004 as the Director, Player Personnel.

McDonald’s appointment today marks the third time that he has been involved in a management position with Team Canada at the IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship. McDonald was Team Canada’s General Manager at both the 20 World Championships. He also represented Canada on three occasions as a player: 1976 Canada Cup, 1979 Challenge Cup and the 1981 World Hockey Championship.

The 2004 IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship takes place in the Czech Republic, April 24 to .

"We are extremely pleased and excited to name Lanny to our staff for the 2004 Men's World Hockey Championship," said Jim Nill. "Lanny will bring his experience from previous World Championships, along with his passion for the game and understanding of the evaluation process of players."

As the Director, Player Personnel, McDonald, a native of Hanna, Alberta, will work closely with Nill and Maloney with the evaluation and scouting of eligible players and player selection for Team Canada at the 2004 IIHF World Hockey Championship.

Team Canada’s 2004 Men’s World Hockey Championship staff will also be working very closely with Team Canada’s World Cup of Hockey 2004 Management staff, consisting of Executive Director Wayne Gretzky, Assistant Executive Director Kevin Lowe and Director, Player Personnel Steve Tambellini in the scouting and naming of players to Canada’s World Championship team.

McDonald, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992, played 1,111 games and 16 seasons in the NHL amassing 1,006 points on 500 goals and 506 assists. He played in four NHL All-Star games, won the Bill Masterton Trophy (1982-83), the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (1987-88) and was named the NHL Man-of-the-Year in 1988-89.

"I am very honored to be appointed and involved once again with Canada's team at the World Hockey Championship," said McDonald. "It is a privilege representing your country, and I look forward to taking my experiences, and working closely with Jim and Don in putting together a solid team, as we set our sights on a gold medal in the Czech Republic."

The coaching and support staff that will join Canada at the 2004 Worlds will be named in the spring.
Canada will be based in Prague, Czech Republic and will play in Group D with Austria, France and Switzerland. Canada’s first game will be on versus Austria.

Canada’s World Championship team will be made up of Canadian NHL players whose teams are eliminated or did not qualify for the 2004 NHL playoffs, and some Canadian players that are playing hockey in Europe during the 03-04 season.

Canada won the 2003 IIHF World Hockey Championship, and won gold twice in the 1990's (1994, 1997). For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National teams, visit the official web site of Team Canada at www.hockeycanada.ca