CALGARY, AB -- Canadian Hockey and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) named 20 players Tuesday to the Under-18 Men's Hockey Team that will represent Canada at a tournament in the Czech Republic in August.

The team will assemble in Toronto for a pre-competition camp from August 4-8 before departing for the Czech Republic, where the Under-18 team will face the Czech Republic and Slovakia in a three-nations tournament from August 10-17.

"This is an excellent opportunity for the players -- and the coaches -- to test themselves against top international competition," said Under-18 head coach Claude Julien, who coached the Hull Olympiques to the Memorial Cup championship last month. "I'm looking forward to working with the best young players in the country at this age level."

There are 17 players from Canadian Hockey League teams on the roster, including seven from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), six from the Western Hockey League (WHL) and four from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The roster also includes one player from the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, SK, and two Midget AAA players from the province of Quebec.

The 1997 National Under-18 team represents another stage of Canadian Hockey's program of excellence, which is designed to provide the best possible development and competition for elite athletes. Fourteen of the athletes selected also participated in the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Red Deer, AB in January, including seven from Team Ontario, which won that event. Forward Justin Papineau, named the most valuable player at the Under-17 tournament, heads the OHL contingent on the Under-18 team. The roster also includes Jonathon Girard, named the most valuable defenceman at the Under-17 tournament.

Julien's assistants with the Under-18 team are: Stan Butler, head coach of the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, and Geoff Ward, head coach of the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.

The schedule for the Czech Republic tournament is as follows:

Sunday, - Canada vs. Czech Republic

Monday, - Canada vs. Czech Republic

Wednesday, - Canada vs. Slovakia

Thursday, - Canada vs. Czech Republic

Friday, - Canada vs. Slovakia

Sunday, - Tournament Final

1997 Team Canada under 18 roster -- L'Equipe Nationale canadienne des Moins-18

Player Ht./Wt. Birthdate 1996-97 Team

Goal

Mathieu Chouinard 6' - 190 Apr. 11, 80 Shawinigan (QMJHL)

Jake McCracken 5'10 - 170 Jan. 15, 80 Sault-Ste-Marie (OHL)

Defense

Bryan Allen 6' - 195 Aug. 21, 80 Oshawa (OHL)

Christian Chartier 6' - 205 Dec. 29, 80 Saskatoon (WHL)

Jonathan Girard 5'10 - 185 May 27, 80 Laval (QMJHL)

Abe Herbst 6' - 185 Feb. 21, 80 Sarnia (OHL)

Stephen Peat 6'2 - 200 Oct. 3, 80 Red Deer (WHL)

Robyn Regehr 6'3 - 205 Apr. 19, 80 Kamloops (WHL)

Forwards

Blair Betts 6'1 - 170 Feb. 16, 80 Prince-George (WHL)

Éric Chouinard 6'2" - 185 July, 8, 80 Ste-Foy AAA

Brett DeCecco 6' - 181 May 20, 80 Seattle (WHL)

Rico Fata 5'10 - 195 Feb. 21, 80 London (OHL)

Simon Gagné 5'11 - 152 Feb. 29,80 Beauport (QMJHL)

Vincent Lecavalier 6' - 175 Apr. 21, 80 Rimouski (QMJHL)

Manny Malhorta 6' - 201 May 18, 80 Guelph (OHL)

Norm Milley 6' - 190 Dec. 22, 80 Sudbury (OHL)

Justin Papineau 6' - 175 Jan. 15, 80 Belleville (OHL)

Garrett Prosofsky 5'10 - 175 May 19, 80 Saskatoon (WHL)

Mike Ribeiro 5'11" - 150 Feb. 10, 80 Bourassa AAA Montréal, QC

Brad Richards 6'1" - 175 Apr. 6, 80 Notre Dame

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Claude Julien (QMJHL)

Assistant: Stan Butler (WHL)

Assistant: Geoff Ward (OHL)

Equipment manager: Robin MacDonald

Athletic therapist: Rick Chamney

Team physician: Dr. Brian Shamess

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Brad Pascall

Director, Communications

Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4556

[email protected]

Andre Brin

Manager, Media Relations

Hockey Canada

(403) 777-3609

[email protected]