KANATA, ON – Canada’s National Junior Team will pay tribute to two-time gold medal-winning National Junior Team member Luc Bourdon during Canada’s opening game at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The members of Canada’s National Junior Team will wear an ‘LB’ sticker on their helmets in honour of Bourdon. In addition, no Canadian player will wear the # 6 jersey this year in tribute to Bourdon, who wore # 6 in both of his IIHF World Junior Championship appearances.

Bourdon, a native of Shippagan, NB, represented Canada on four separate occasions, winning a gold and silver medal with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team and two gold medals with Canada’s National Junior Team (2006, 2007). Bourdon passed away suddenly in May 2008 as a result of a traffic accident. He also played for the New Brunswick under-17 team at the 2003 Canada Winter Games and for Team Atlantic at the 2004 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

A defenceman, Bourdon played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Val d’Or, Moncton and Cape Breton. A first round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 2005, he played a total of 36 games for the Canucks.

Canada will wear the ‘LB’ sticker on all player helmets for its first game of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26, versus the Czech Republic.

TSN, TSN HD and TSN.ca, along with RDS, RDS HD and RDS.ca have live coverage of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, airing December 26 to January 5 from Ottawa. Twelve Pool B games are available on Rogers television stations in Ontario.

Team Canada games will also be broadcast LIVE on The FAN Radio Network (check local listings).

Canada has medaled at 10 consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2008, 2007, 20, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 20, and bronze medals in 20.