Three Red Wings Named to Canadian World Cup Team

Hockey Canada announced Saturday Team Canada’s roster for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Included among their selections are three members of the Detroit Red Wings: Centers Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper and left wing Kirk Maltby.

The roster was determined by Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson, Team Canada’s World Cup management team of Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini, and coaches Pat Quinn, Ken Hitchcock, Jacques Martin and Wayne Fleming.

Yzerman represented Team Canada at the 1996 World Cup, the only other time the tournament has been held. He also played for his country in 1998 and 2002 at the Olympic Winter Games, helping Canada to a gold medal in 2002. Yzerman played on the Canadian squad at the 1984 Canada Cup – the predecessor of the World Cup tournament – as well as at the World and European Championships in 1985, 1989 and 1990, and at the World Junior Championships in 1983.

Draper played alongside Maltby for Team Canada at the 2003 World Championships as the Canadians claimed the gold. He also played for the Canadian National Team in 1988-89 and 1989-90 and for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in 1990 and 1991.

Maltby’s only previous international experience was in the 2003 World Championships.

The 2004 World Cup of Hockey will take place from August 30 to September 14, 2004. Team Canada will play in the North American Division alongside the United States, Czech Republic and Russia. North American Division games will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Team Canada’s full roster is as follows:

Goaltenders– Ed Belfour (Toronto Maple Leafs), Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils), and Roberto Luongo (Florida Panthers)

Defensemen– Rob Blake (Colorado Avalanche), Eric Brewer (Edmonton Oilers), Adam Foote (Avalanche), Ed Jovanovski (Vancouver Canucks), Scott Niedermayer (Devils), Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues), Wade Redden (Ottawa Senators), and Robyn Regehr (Calgary Flames)

Forwards– Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes), Draper, Simon Gagne (Philadelphia Flyers), Dany Heatley (Atlanta Thrashers), Jarome Iginla (Flames), Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins), Maltby, Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks), Brendan Morrow (Dallas Stars), Brad Richards (Tampa Bay Lightning), Joe Sakic (Avalanche), Ryan Smyth (Oilers), Martin St. Louis (Lightning), Joe Thornton (Boston Bruins), and Yzerman