CALGARY, AB –  Thirty-two of Canada’s top players under 20 years old have been invited to Canada’s 2005 National Junior Team Selection Camp December 12-16, 2004 in Winnipeg, Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Monday at three press conferences in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal and via www.hockeycanada.ca.

Team Canada’s selection camp will serve to prepare, evaluate and name the final 22 players on Canada’s roster for the 2005 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, ND, to . 

Canada will play its first game of the 2005 World Juniors on Christmas Day, Dec. 25 versus Slovakia at 3:30pm CT (4:30pm ET/1:30pm PT), which will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on the FAN radio network (check local listings).

“We are fortunate to be in a unique position this year, whereby we have wealth of experience with twelve players returning from the 2004 silver medal winning National Junior Team” said Bob Nicholson, President Hockey Canada.  “Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence continues to set new standards on the world scene and the quality of players invited to the camp is a testament of the hard work and commitment of all involved in the Canadian minor hockey system.”

"I’m very pleased with the group of players we have invited to attend the camp in Winnipeg,” said Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada’s Head Scout who oversees the player selection of Canada’s Under-18 and Junior teams, traveling throughout Canada and the United States, scouting and evaluating the top Canadian players under 20 years of age. “We’ve had to make some difficult decisions but we feel we have a group of players that will give us the best chance to assemble a team capable of challenging for the gold medal.”

“As a coaching staff, we’re counting on a very competitive camp.  This camp is just another step in the process of getting better as a team each day, “ said Team Canada Head Coach Brent Sutter. “We are expecting these players to be giving their best and be focused on the task at hand from the moment they arrive in Winnipeg.”

Canada’s selection camp roster also breaks down as follows:

• 21 players from the Western Hockey League           
•  7 from the Ontario Hockey League
•  4 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (including 1 playing in the American Hockey League)
• 12 returning players from the 2004 World Junior Championship Team
• 21 of the players have previous Program of Excellence experience as members of the Canada's National Under-18 team program
• 23 of the 32 players have been involved in Canada's Regional Under-17 Program of Excellence
• Leadership: 11 players are currently captains of their respective teams, and another 14 are alternate captains
• Avg. age: 19 years, 4 months, 27 days (from Dec. 24)
• Average height: 6’1
• Average weight: 202
• 14 of the 32 players are NHL First Round Draft Picks, six players are 2nd round NHL drafts,  and 5 were selected in the 3rd round
• CHL Draft: 23 of the 32 players were drafted between the 1st and 3rd rounds of the CHL Drafts, 3 were chosen between rounds 4 and 6, and six players were undrafted by the CHL

“The Canadian Hockey League is very proud of the tradition of excellence that we have developed with Hockey Canada for our National Junior Team program,” said David Branch, President of the CHL. “The young men who have been selected to compete in the final selection camp represent the very best Canadians that the CHL has to offer and we wish them all of the success that their hard work and determination brings.”

In the 1990's, Canada captured seven gold medals, with a record five gold medals in a row from 1993-1997, and one silver medal in 1999. Canada is the only country to medal at the past six World Junior Championships, with silver medals in 1999, 2002, 20, and bronze medals in 20.

Details regarding Team Canada’s selection camp, Dec. 12-16 in Winnipeg, MB:

Canada’s selection camp will be held at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, MB, Dec. 12-16

Daily Team Canada ice sessions are free and open to the public (see attached schedule) or visit www.hockeycanada.ca for complete schedule

Tickets for the games versus the University of Manitoba (Dec. 14 and 15) are available via www.ticketmaster.ca

The MTS Centre will also host the ‘Team Canada Junior Series’ that will run December Dec. 21, 22 and feature Canada, Finland and Switzerland’s National Junior Teams. Each team will play each other once. Tickets are on sale now via www.ticketmaster.ca or visiting or calling your local Ticketmaster outlet.