CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada is set to host Canada’s National Men’s Team orientation camp at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. from August 24-27.
The camp will serve as preparation for players for the upcoming 2009-10 international hockey season, including the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. and the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany.
The 46 players attending the camp have been divided into Red and White rosters for the opening ice sessions, although these rosters may change during the course of the week.
“This is a very exciting week for international hockey, with our men’s, women’s and sledge programs all assembled in Calgary from August 24-27,” said Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada’s president and CEO. “Canada is the place to be for international hockey this season, with the World Juniors in Saskatchewan over the Christmas holidays and the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver in February.”
“In addition, Hockey Canada is proud to announce today that it will provide full insurance coverage to players attending the orientation camp,” said Nicholson. “Hockey Canada wants the players in Calgary next week to feel entirely at ease on the ice. The large majority of them have represented Canada proudly on the international stage and we owe them this level of insurance.”
“At Hockey Canada, we realize that these players are role models for the over 500,000 kids who play minor hockey in Canada,” added Ken Corbett, chair of Hockey Canada’s board of directors. “Hockey Canada’s mandate is to provide our players at all levels with a safe environment, which is assured through our national insurance program and this also applies here.”
The management group for Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team is comprised of executive director Steve 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).
Head coach Mike Babcock (Saskatoon, Sask./Detroit, NHL) will lead the on-ice sessions along with associate coaches Jacques Lemaire (LaSalle, Que./New Jersey, NHL), Lindy Ruff (Warburg, Alta./Buffalo, NHL) and Ken Hitchcock (Sherwood Park, Alta./Columbus, 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.
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 through the Team Canada Hockey Hat Trick, with the lower bowl almost at capacity. Individual tickets left for the Red-White scrimmage will go on sale early next week.
TEAM CANADA HOCKEY HAT TRICK TICKET PACKAGE INFORMATION
Tickets to the 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 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.