SCORE BOARD

CALGARY – Hockey Canada’s executive vice president Johnny Misley, the general manager for Canada’s entry in the 2007 Spengler Cup, announced on Thursday that Sean Simpson (Brampton, ON) has been named head coach of Team Canada for the 2007 Spengler Cup, which will be held December 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. The Spengler Cup game schedule will be announced by the Host Committee in the next month.

Simpson, a head coach for EV Zug in the Swiss Elite League, has been an assistant coach with Team Canada at the previous three Spengler Cups, including in 20, when Canada qualified for the championship game.

Jim Koleff (Hamilton, ON), a consultant/scout with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss Elite League, returns as an assistant coach for Canada at the Spengler Cup. As an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2006 Spengler Cup, Koleff captured a silver medal, and won gold with Canada at the 2002 Spengler Cup.

Doug Gilmour (Kingston, ON), a player development advisor with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, will join Simpson and Koleff as an assistant coach in his first coaching capacity internationally. Gilmour, a former NHLer, played 17 games for Team Canada at the international level, including the 1981 World Junior Championship, the 1987 Canada Cup and the 1990 IIHF World Championship. Gilmour also played in 1474 games in the NHL, registering 1414 points.

“I am very happy with the coaching staff that we have assembled for the 2007 Spengler Cup,” said Johnny Misley, Executive Vice President, Hockey Operations and Canada’s general manager at this year’s Spengler Cup. “Sean and Jim have excellent international coaching experience, while Doug brings great hockey knowledge to the position.”

“I am very excited about this opportunity with Team Canada,” said Simpson. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the last two Spengler Cups, and look forward to working with Jim and Doug in making this a successful event for Canada.”

Canada’s roster for the Spengler Cup will be made up of Canadian professionals playing in Europe and some NHL prospects loaned for this event. Misley will be assembling the team in conjunction with the coaching staff.

In 2006, Team Canada included two-time World Championship player Stacy Roest (Lethbridge, AB/ Rapperswill, SUI), as well as NHL prospects and National Junior Team Alumnus Tim Brent (Cambridge, ON/ Pittsburgh, NHL), Devan Dubnyk (Calgary, AB/ Edmonton, NHL), Jay Harrison (Whitby, ON/ Toronto, NHL), Justin Pogge (Penticton, BC/ Toronto, NHL) and Danny Syvret (Milgrove, ON/ Edmonton, NHL). Team Canada has reached the final at the Spengler Cup in six of the past seven years, including two gold medals (2002, 2003).

The 2007 Spengler Cup will include Team Canada, Adler Mannheim (Germany), HC Moeller Pardubice (Czech Republic), HC Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia) and HC Davos (host team). Mannheim and Davos are their respective country’s reigning champions. Rogers Sportsnet will broadcast all of Canada’s games from the 2007 Spengler Cup.

The Spengler Cup, held annually since 1923, is the oldest professional international hockey tournament in the world.