DRESDEN, Germany – Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team has arrived in Dresden, Germany, where it will take part in the 2011 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, which runs from April 14-24. Canada finished seventh at last year’s world championship in Minsk and Bobruisk, Belarus, and last won U18 gold at the 2008 tournament in Kazan, Russia.

Canada opens the tournament on Friday against the Czech Republic, and will also face Finland, Norway and Sweden in Group B preliminary round action in Dresden. Germany, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and the United States comprise Group A. The semifinals are set for Saturday, April 23, with the bronze medal and gold medal games scheduled for Sunday, April 24. All medal round games will take place in Crimmitschau.

National Men’s Under-18 Team head coach Mike Williamson has announced that defenceman Ryan Murray (White City, Sask./Everett, WHL) will be Canada’s captain at the 2011 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Murray is the lone player on Canada’s roster who played for Canada as an underage player at the 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Forward Brett Ritchie (Orangeville, Ont./Sarnia, OHL) and defenceman Scott Harrington (Kingston, Ont./London, OHL) will serve as alternate captains.

Canada took part in three pre-tournament games after arriving in Germany, defeating the United States 2-1 on Friday and Germany 4-2 on Tuesday. The team dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to Sweden on Monday.

Canada's roster includes 14 players from the Ontario Hockey League, six players from the Western Hockey League and two players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Six players helped Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team capture the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament in August 2010 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For media hoping to contact players and/or staff for interviews while the team is overseas, please contact Hockey Canada’s coordinator of media relations Keegan Goodrich ([email protected]) to arrange all interviews.

TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will broadcast Canada’s final preliminary round game against Sweden on Tuesday, April 19, a quarter-final game on April 21, a semifinal game on Saturday, April 23 and both medal games on Sunday, April 24. Check your local listings for game times in your area.