Three QMJHL players make Canada’s National Junior team

By admin December 15, 2008

OTTAWA, Monday, December 15, 2008 – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Monday the 22 players that will make up Canada’s National Junior Team for the upcoming 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, from December 26, 2008 January 5, 2009.

Canada’s National Junior Team includes four players (Boychuk, Hickey, Subban, Tavares) who won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Moreover, three Quebec Major Junior Hockey League players managed to crack Pat Quinn's roster: Patrice Cormier (Océanic), Christopher DiDomenico (Sea Dogs) and Angelo Esposito (Juniors).

<a href="http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/58868/la_id/1.htm" class="lnkBase10px"><b>Roster</b></a>

Eighteen of the players have previous international experience, including 12 players who played with Canada’s National Under-18 Team and 18 who played with Canadian regional Under-17 teams at either the World Under-17 Challenge or the Canada Winter Games.

Twenty of the players named to the final roster were drafted in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including 10 first-round selections and four second-round selections. Two players are eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Canada will play its first game of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th 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.

Team Canada games will also be broadcast LIVE on the FAN radio network (check local listings).

Canada has medaled in 10-straight World Junior Championships including: gold medal performances in 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.