Heroes from Prague will lead Canada in World Cup

�IIHF World Championship MVP Dany Heatley will lead Team Canada also in the World Cup of Hockey this coming autumn.

Wayne Gretzky, coach Pat Quinn and Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson made the announcement in Calgary on Saturday, May 15. Dany Heatley, the MVP, All-Star forward, Directorate Best Forward and the scoring leader in the 2004 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic, was named to Canada's 26-man roster together with goaltender Roberto Luongo, forwards Ryan Smyth (World Championship captain) and Brenden Morrow and defensemen Scott Niedermayer, and Eric Brewer, who were all dominant Canadians in Prague.

There were few surprises to the roster as Gretzky and Quinn decided to show confidence in players who have a proven track record in international hockey, leading Canada to the 2002 Olympic Gold Medal and to the success in Czech Republic 2004. Luongo will have to compete with Olympic gold medallists Martin Brodeur and Ed Belfour for the starting goaltender position.

Notable omissions from the 26-player roster were wingers Paul Kariya (major surprise) and Alex Tanguay of the Colorado Avalanche, all-star netminder Jose Theodore of the Montreal Canadiens and centres Keith Primeau of the Philadelphia Flyers and Vincent Lecavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Also World Championship defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is absent.

"There are no surprises as far as I'm concerned, each and every guy on this team deserves to be there," said Gretzky.

Gretzky and his management staff of Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini brought back 14 players from the Olympic champion squad of February 2002, including both veteran superstar centres Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings.

The four other returning forwards are Ryan Smyth of the Edmonton Oilers, Simon Gagne of the Philadelphia Flyers, Joe Sakic of the Avalanche and Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames.

Also back from the defending Olympic champions are goalies Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and Ed Belfour of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as six defencemen: Eric Brewer of the Oilers, Ed Jovanovski of the Vancouver Canucks, Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues, Scott Niedermayer of the New Jersey Devils, as well as Adam Foote and Rob Blake of the Avalanche.

Gone from the Salt Lake team are Kariya, goalie Curtis Joseph, defenceman Al MacInnis, and forwards Theo Fleury, Eric Lindros, Joe Nieuwendyk, Michael Peca, Brendan Shanahan and Owen Nolan.

Joining St. Louis, Heatley and Thornton as newcomers are netminder Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers, defencemen Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators and Robyn Regehr of the Flames, as well as forwards Brad Richards of the Lightning, Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks, Brenden Morrow of the Dallas Stars, Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes as well as Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby of the Red Wings.

Canada will seek revange as they lost the best-of-three final of the 1996 World Cup to the U.S. two games to one. Canada won the first game in Philadelphia, but the Americans won the two remaining games, both played in Montreal. 

The World Cup of Hockey (www.wch2004.com - August 30 - September 14)  is a NHL and NHLPA organized tournament in co-operation with the IIHF and it will be played according to the NHL rulebook. Team Sweden will be the second team to announce its roster as they hold a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday, May 17.  

Szymon Szemberg
(with files from CP)