CALGARY, ALTA. – Hockey Canada announced on Tuesday a roster addition for Canada’s National Men’s Team orientation camp, to be held from August 24-27 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary.
The management group, led by executive director Steve Yzerman, announced on Tuesday that Jason Spezza (Mississauga, Ont./Ottawa, NHL) has been added to the camp roster. Spezza has played for Canada at the IIHF World Championship on five occasions, most recently at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.
The addition of Spezza to the roster comes after forward Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, Sask./Anaheim, NHL) required off-season surgery and will not be able to take part in on-ice sessions. Getzlaf will still attend the camp and take part in off-ice activities. Another forward named to the camp roster, Joe Sakic (Burnaby, B.C.) has announced his retirement and will not be in attendance.
The camp roster now includes five goaltenders, 16 defencemen and 25 forwards.
The management group is comprised of Yzerman, Hockey Canada executive vice-president of hockey operations Johnny Misley, Hockey Canada president/CEO Bob Nicholson and associate directors Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, Ont./St. Louis, NHL), Ken Holland (Vernon, B.C./Detroit, NHL) and Kevin Lowe (Lachute, Que./Edmonton, NHL).
Players not invited to the National Men’s Team orientation camp can still be considered for both the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and 2010 IIHF World Championship.
The group of players will be divided into Red and White rosters, although these rosters may change during the course of the orientation camp.
All on-ice sessions will be at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary. Further details will be finalized and released in prior to the camp opening.
NOTE - All practices will be closed to the general public, however tickets to the Red-White scrimmage on August 27 are on sale and available to the public.
Tickets to a Red-White scrimmage on August 27 can be purchased as part of the Team Canada Hockey Hat Trick which also includes two additional Team Canada games at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary: a Canada vs. United States women’s hockey game on December 15, and a Canada vs. Finland pre-World Junior game on December 22. The Team Canada Hockey Hat Trick ticket package can be purchased at the Pengrowth Saddledome or through Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at (403) 777-0000 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca.