CANADA
CAPTURES GOLD
2006 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Canada's National Junior Team
successfully defended their gold medal at the 2006 IIHF
World Junior Championship after a 5-0 win over Russia
on Thursday evening. With the gold medal, Canada has
tied the Soviet Union winning a medal for the eighth
consecutive year (1999-2006). The Soviet Union accomplished
the feat from 1974-1981.
Canada has won back-to-back
gold medals for the first time since their
string of 5 consecutive gold medals from 1993-1997.
In total, Canada has captured 12 gold medals, second
behind only Russia, formerly the Soviet Union, who have
won 14 World Junior Championships.
Michael Blunden registered two
goals, while Steve Downie, Blake Comeau and Kyle Chipchura
added singles. Justin Pogge made 35 saves for a Team
Canada record third shutout of the event.
Canada's all-time results record
on home soil at the World Junior
Championship now stands at 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze
medal. Canada had not won the gold medal in Canada since
1995, when the tournament was held in Red Deer, Alberta,
winning silver twice in Hamilton (2003) and Winnipeg
(1999).
For full information on the
2006 IIHF World Junior Championship, including final
statistics, award winners and features, visit the official
website of the event and of Hockey Canada: www.hockeycanada.ca
The 2006 IIHF World Junior
Championship Directorate announced the individual award
winners on Thursday, following the gold medal game.
IIHF DIRECTORATE AWARDS
The Directorate Awards are determined
by a vote at the Tournament Directorate, which consists
of representatives of all teams, the IIHF and the Host
Committee
Top Goaltender: Tuukka Rask
(FIN)
Top Defenceman: Marc Staal (CAN)
Top Forward: Evgeni Malkin (RUS)
MEDIA ALL-STAR TEAM
The all-star team is the result
of a vote among accredited journalists covering the
2006 IIHF World Junior Championship
Goaltender: Tuukka Rask (FIN)
Defencemen: Luc Bourdon (CAN), Jack Johnson (USA)
Forwards: Evgeni Malkin (RUS), Steve Downie (CAN), Lauri
Tukonen (FIN)
MEDIA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
The Most Valuable Player (MVP)
is determined by a vote among accredited journalists
covering the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship
Most Valuable Player: Evgeni
Malkin (RUS)
· Returning players:
1 - Cam Barker, a defenceman,
from Canada’s 2005 gold medal winning National Junior
Team
· Minor Hockey
/ Hockey Canada Branch breakdown:
7 - Hockey Alberta, Hockey
Quebec;
5 - Ontario Hockey Federation;
1 - Saskatchewan Hockey Association;
1 - Hockey New Brunswick
· Where they
are playing:
Thirteen (13) players from
the Western Hockey League (WHL)
Nine (9) players from the Ontario
Hockey League (OHL)
Seven (7) players from the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Five (5) players from U.S.
College Hockey (NCAA)
· Program of
Excellence experience:
Twenty-five (25) of the 34
players have been involved in Hockey Canada’s National
Under-18 Program, including nine (9) players who won
silver medals at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship;
Twenty-four (24) of the 34
players have been involved in Canada's Regional Under-17
Program of Excellence, including 13 who took part in
the 2003 Canada Winter Games, 13 who took part in 2004
World Under-17 Challenge and one (1) player who took
part in the 2005 World Under-17 Challenge;
Five (5) players invited to
Selection Camp (Bolland, Chucko, Esposito, Pouliot,
Vlasic) will be looking for their first ever experience
on a regional or national team;
· Leadership:
Six (6) players (Chipchura,
Little, O’Marra, Parent, Russell, Staal) are currently
captains of their respective teams, and fourteen (14)
are alternate captains;
· Vital statistics:
Average age: 19 years, 0 months,
2 days (as of Dec. 25, 2005);
By year of birth: 1986 (16
players); 1987 (16 players); 1988 (1 player); 1989 (1
player);
Average height: 6’1”
Average weight: 192 lbs
· NHL Entry Draft
information:
Thirty (30) of the 34 players
invited to camp have been drafted in either the 2004
or 2005 NHL Entry Drafts;
Sixteen (16) of the 32 NHL
drafted players were First Round NHL Draft Picks, eight
(8) players are Second Round NHL Draft Picks, and four
(4) were selected in the Third Round;
Four (4) undrafted players
will be at Canada’s Selection Camp, including three
(Brassard, Little, Toews) who are eligible for the 2006
NHL Entry Draft and one (Esposito) will be eligible
for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft;
The NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks
have the most drafted players invited Canada’s 2006
Selection Camp, with four (Barker, Bertram, Blunden
and Bolland), followed by the Montreal Canadiens (3);
Seven NHL teams have two players
at Camp (Calgary, Edmonton, NY Islanders, NY Rangers,
San Jose, Vancouver, Washington) while eight NHL teams
have one player at camp (Buffalo, Minnesota, Nashville,
Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Toronto)
Hockey Canada and
the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Monday
that 34 of Canada’s best junior-aged hockey players
(born in 1986 or later) have been invited to take part
in Canada’s National Junior Selection Camp from December
11-16, 2005 at PNE in Vancouver, BC.
Of the 34 players invited, 26
attended Canada’s August National Junior Team Development
Camp in Whistler/Vancouver, BC, where they mixed with
Canada’s Men’s Olympic NHL camp players. Seven players
invited to next week’s Selection Camp were not at the
August Development Camp (G - Pogge, D – Pokulok, Schultz;
F – Brassard, Esposito, Setoguchi, Toews).
“Hockey Canada’s Program of
Excellence, including our Under-17 and Under-18 Programs,
has provided many of these players the preparation and
experience for to deal with the rigors of the upcoming
World Juniors and high paced international competition,”
said Blair Mackasey, Director of Program of Excellence,
Hockey Canada. “The quality and skill of the 34 players
invited to the camp next week is a testament of the
hard work, commitment and development of all those involved
in the Canadian minor hockey and junior hockey system.”
Team Canada’s Director, Player
Personnel, Blair Mackasey traveled coast to coast during
the first part of the hockey season assessing players
in preparation of the Selection Camp.
SELECTION CAMP INFORMATION –
CLICK HER FOR SELECTION CAMP SCHEDULE
Players and staff will travel
to Vancouver on Sunday, December 11th, and will take
to the ice on Dec. 12th at the PNE in Vancouver (view
the full schedule at www.hockeycanada.ca ). A formal
media availability for all of Canada’s players and staff
will take place at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum / PNE
at 1:00pm PT on Sunday, December 11th.
All practices at the Selection
Camp, Dec. 12-15th are open to the public free of charge.
Tickets for the December 13th and 14th intersquad games,
as well as the game versus the University of British
Columbia Men’s Team on December 15th are on sale now
for $15.00 plus service charges (Tickets are available
at the Pacific Coliseum Box Office two hours prior to
game time or in advance at TicketMaster at (604) 280-4400
or online at www.ticketmaster.ca). As a special bonus
for students wanting to cheer on their team, tickets
to the December 15th Team Canada versus UBC game will
be $10.00 for current UBC students.
Canada will play its first game
of the 2006 World Juniors on Boxing Day, December 26th
versus Finland at 4:00pm PT (7:00pm ET), which will
be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on the FAN radio network
(check local listings).
Canada has medaled in seven
straight World Junior Championships including: a gold
medal performance in 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003,
2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.
At the 2006 IIHF World Junior
Championship in British Columbia, Canada will look to
win back to back gold medals for the first time since
Canada’s string of five consecutive World Junior Championship
titles (1993-1997). The team will be looking for its
first gold medal when the event is held in Canada, since
1995.
Canada's 2006 National Junior
team has confirmed its selection camp and pre-competition
details and locations in preparation for the 2006 IIHF
World Junior Championship taking place in Kamloops,
Kelowna and Vancouver, British Columbia from December
26-January 5th, 2006.
Team Canada’s selection camp
will take place at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver
from December 11th to 16th. All morning practices are
open to the public free of charge. Tickets for the December
13th and 14th intersquad games, as well as the game
versus the University of British Columbia Men’s Team
on December 15th are $15.00 plus service charges and
will go on sale Saturday, November 12th. Tickets are
available at the Pacific Coliseum Box Office two hours
prior to game time or in advance at TicketMaster at
(604) 280-4400 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. As
a special bonus for students wanting to cheer on their
team, tickets to the December 15th Team Canada versus
UBC game will be $10.00 for current UBC students only.
Team Canada’s selection camp
roster will be announced by Hockey Canada in early December.
Canada will open the 2006 IIHF
World Junior Championship on Monday, December 26th at
16:00 (local) versus Finland. All of Canada’s games
at the World Junior Championship, beginning Dec. 26th,
will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on the FAN radio
network.
“We are really looking forward
to spending our first few days as a team in Chase and
Kamloops, BC for our pre-competition camp,” said Blair
Mackasey, Director, Program of Excellence with Hockey
Canada. “Both communities have already been very accommodating,
and we know that we will be getting a great welcome,
and that their love of hockey will be front and center.”
NOTE – All practice times are
subject to change
DATE TIME (PT) EVENT LOCATION
Dec. 11
All Day Player Arrivals Vancouver, BC
TBD Media availability with players and coaches - TBD
Dec. 12
9:30 TEAM RED Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
11:15 TEAM WHITE Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
16:00 TEAM RED Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
17:45 TEAM WHITE Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Dec. 13
9:30 TEAM WHITE Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
10:45 TEAM RED Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
18:00 Intersquad Game #1 Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Dec. 14
9:30 TEAM RED Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
10:45 TEAM WHITE Practice Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
18:00 Intersquad Game #2 Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Dec. 15
18:00 CAN vs Univ. of BC Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Dec. 16
TBD Media availability with team Vancouver, BC – TBD
After the conclusion of Canada’s
selection camp, the team will travel to Chase, BC (approximately
30 minutes outside of Kamloops, BC – East on HWY 1)
for a pre-competition camp. Media availability during
the Chase pre-competition portion (Dec. 17-19th) will
be limited. All practices in Chase and Kamloops are
open to the public, free of charge.
DATE TIME (PT) EVENT LOCATION
Dec. 17
10:00 CAN Practice Chase, BC – Art Holding Memorial
Arena
16:00 CAN Practice Chase, BC – Art Holding Memorial
Arena
Dec. 18
10:00 CAN Practice Chase, BC – Art Holding Memorial
Arena
15:30 CAN Practice Chase, BC – Art Holding Memorial
Arena
Dec. 19
11:00 CAN Practice Chase, BC – Art Holding Memorial
Arena
Dec. 20
10:30 Pre-game skate Kamloops, BC – Interior Saving
Centre
19:00 CAN vs CZE Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place
Dec. 21
11:30 CAN Practice Kamloops, BC – Interior Saving Centre
Dec. 22
10:30 Pre-game skate Kamloops, BC – Interior Saving
Centre
19:00 CAN vs RUS Kamloops, BC – Interior Saving Centre
Dec. 23
9:00 CAN Practice Kamloops, BC – Interior Saving Centre
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