OTTAWA - Canadian Hockey announced today the roster for Canada's entry in the inaugural 1996 IIHF In-Line World Championship in the Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota area from August 4-10.

The 16-player roster was selected following a two-day camp last weekend in Chatham, Ont.

"We're very confident with the caliber of players we have selected and feel that we will perform well at this inaugural world championship," said head coach Dave Easter of Chatham, Ont. "In addition, we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the players at camp. It made for many difficult decisions."

Team Canada will fly into Minneapolis on July 30, and will hold a three-day pre-tournament training camp at that time. An exhibition game with the American squad has been tentatively scheduled for August 2nd. The World Championship round-robin begins on August 4 with Canada playing Japan, followed by Germany on August 5 and Finland on August 6. The quarterfinals are slated for August 7.

The roster is as follows:

Goaltenders - Ken Kinney, Surrey, B.C.; Scott Taylor, Meadowlake, Sask.

Defence - Bart Coté, Regina, Sask.; John Friesen, Vancouver; Scott Hillman, LaSalle, Ont.

Forwards - Karry Biette, Estevan, Sask.; Dean Dorchak, Calgary; Brandon Boyko, Chatham, Ont.; Nathan Bowen, London, Ont.; Ken House, Toronto; Owen Lessard, London, Ont.; Paul Melton, Sarnia, Ont.; Greg Pajor, Wilsonville, Ont.; Chris Morrison, Vancouver; Dan Price, Sarnia, Ont.; Brett Seguin, St.Mary's, Ont.