CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), has announced the rosters of the four international teams competing in the 2008 World Junior A Challenge, November 2-9 in Camrose, AB.

Teams from Belarus, Germany, Russia and the United States will join Canada West and Canada East at the six-team tournament. Canada West, Belarus and Russia will play in Pool A, while Canada East, Germany and the United States will comprise Pool B.

The international rosters include:

Thirteen (13) players who took part in the 2008 IIHF World Under-18 Championship
Belarus (5) – Brykun, Drozd, Salamonau, Susla, Volkau
Germany (6) – Bielke, Bruckner, Flaake, Nowak, Pohl, Weiss
Russia (1) – Orlov
United States (1) – Kristo

Eighteen (18) players who took part in the 2007 World Junior A Challenge
Belarus (5) – Dashkou, Kolasau, Korabau, Mikhailau, Razvadouski
Germany (8) – Geiger, Hinterstocker, Oblinger, Oppolzer, Rupprich, Stein, Sturm, Wittfoth
United States (5) – Cichy, Helgeson, Larson, Nicastro, Smith

Six (6) players drafted in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (team, round, overall)
Germany (1) – Flaake (TOR, 5, 130)
United States (5) – Burke (WSH, 7, 174), Donovan (NYI, 4, 96), Kristo (MTL, 2, 56), Larson (CGY, 4, 108), Nicastro (DET, 3, 91)

The 2008 World Junior A Challenge kicks off on Sunday, November 2 as Canada West faces Belarus at the Edgeworth Centre in Camrose, AB. The gold medal game is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT on Sunday, November 9, and will be broadcast on TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada (check your local listings).

Single-game tickets and full-tournament ticket packages are still available.

Tickets are also still available for the tournament’s opening ceremonies on Saturday, November 1, which will feature a concert by Canadian rock legend Tom Cochrane, the first concert at the Edgeworth Centre.

Canada’s National Men’s Team will face the Swiss national team on Tuesday, November 4 in Rapperswil, SUI in the Swiss Challenge, while the 2008 Deutschland Cup will run from November 7-9 in Mannheim and Frankfurt, GER. Canada last participated in the Deutschland Cup in 2006, winning bronze. It has won the tournament on three occasions (2000, 2002, 2005).