CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, announced on Friday, December 15th, 2006, the final roster of 22 players which will represent Canada at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Leksand and Mora, Sweden from through .

The roster features 11 players that won a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver, seven additional players with previous international experience. Sixteen (16) players have represented Canada with the National Under-18 Program, while 16 players have presented Canada on regional teams at the World Under-17 Challenge.

Friday morning, the coaching staff released six players, trimming the roster to the 22 player limit, as dictated by IIHF rules. The six released players are being returned to their club teams.

Released players from National Junior Team Selection Camp – December 14th

• G – Jonathan Bernier (Laval, QC/ Lewiston, QMJHL)
• G – Steve Mason (Oakville, ON/ London, OHL)
• D – Dustin Kohn (Edmonton, AB/ Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)
• D – Brendan Mikkelson (St. Albert, AB/ Vancouver, WHL)
• F – Cody Bass (Mississauga, ON/ Mississauga, OHL)
• F – Claude Giroux (Ottawa, ON/ Gatineau, QMJHL)

The team departs for Europe on Friday afternoon where it will train in Vierumakki, Finland from December 16-19. Canada will play in two exhibition games, on December 20th in Helsinki against Finland, and on December 22nd in Stockholm in Sweden.

Canada has medaled in eight straight World Junior Championships including: back to back gold medal performances in 20, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 20.

At the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden, Canada will look to win a third consecutive gold medal for the first time since Canada’s string of five consecutive World Junior Championship titles (1993-1997). Canada will play its first game of the 2007 World Juniors in Sweden on Boxing Day, December 26th, versus Sweden at 1:00pm ET (7:00pm local), which will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on the FAN radio network (check local listings).

For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp and Hockey Canada’s development programs, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.