HALIFAX (CIS / AUS) - Canadian Interuniversity Sport and Atlantic University Sport announced today that the Canadian Universiade men's hockey team will hold an Orientation Camp December 17-19 in preparation for the 2007 Winter World University Games in Turin, Italy, January 17-27.

Canada is represented at this winter's Universiade in men's hockey by a selection of AUS all-stars. AUS players brought home a silver medal from their last appearance in Zakopane, Poland, in 2001.

The Orientation Camp, led by Team Canada and Saint Mary's University head coach Trevor Stienburg, assistants Darren Burns (Acadia) and Gardiner MacDougall (UNB) and general manager Chris Larsen, will be held in Wolfville, N.S. at the Acadia Arena on the campus of Acadia University.

The three-day camp will provide the players and staff the opportunity to start the process of becoming Team Canada on and off the ice. The camp will feature five on-ice practice sessions intended to familiarize players with the differences they will encounter at a international tournament of this caliber, including a larger Olympic-sized ice surface and a more international style of play.

"We will also utilize the time together in Wolfville for team-building activities so that players who are normally accustomed to battling in the very competitive AUS hockey conference can begin to mold into a team," said Stienburg.

While in Wolfville, the team also intends to provide an opportunity for the community to meet Team Canada players. On Tuesday, December 19, the elementary schools in the local area are being invited to a one-hour "Skate with Team Canada" event at Acadia Arena, beginning at 12 p.m. AT. Following at 2 p.m. the public at large is invited to watch the team conduct a one-hour intra-squad game. Both events are free to the public.

"We feel it is very important for the players to interact with the community at large and in particular, the great hockey fans in the Valley," said GM Larsen. "The noon hour Skate with Team Canada event will provide young boys and girls a first-hand opportunity to meet the best players in the AUS."

Key dates and times for the Orientation Camp are:

Sunday, Dec. 17
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.: Practice

Monday, Dec. 18
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.: Practice
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.: Practice

Tuesday, Dec. 19
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.: Practice
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.: Skate with Team Canada
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Mini-Game

Team Canada will depart for Italy on Sunday, January 14 and will open the 11-country, round-robin tournament on January 18 against Team USA. The team will return to Canada on Sunday, January 28.

Canada will be in a pool with the United States, Korea, Slovakia and Russia, while the other group is comprised of host Italy, Japan, the Czech Republic, Finland, Great Britain and Kazakhstan. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semi-finals.

Canada?s participation in the Universiade is managed by the CIS International Programs. For more information about Canada at the Turin Games visit:
www.cisport.ca/e/international/universiade/turin_2007

TEAM CANADA UNIVERSIADE SCHEDULE

Thursday, Jan. 18: Canada vs. USA
Sunday, Jan. 21: Canada vs. Korea
Monday, Jan. 22: Canada vs. Slovakia
Wednesday, Jan. 24: Canada vs. Russia
Thursday, Jan. 25: consolation (positions 5-11)
Friday, Jan. 26: semi-finals
Saturday, Jan. 27: bronze medal & final

TEAM CANADA ROSTER

Position Name University HT WT Elig. Hometown

Goaltender Jon Ceci Acadia 5-11 170 4 King City, Ont.
Goaltender Paul Drew UPEI 5-10 205 3 Merlin, Ont.
Goaltender Aaron Molnar St. Thomas 6-0 185 5 Dorchester, Ont.

Defence Anthony Butera St. Thomas 5-10 195 2 Woodbridge, Ont.
Defence Dustin Friesen UNB 6-0 195 3 Waldheim, Sask.
Defence Scott Hotham Saint Mary's 6-2 210 2 Barrie, Ont.
Defence Louis Mandeville Moncton 6-2 220 4 Sorel-Tracy, Que.
Defence Brandon Roach Acadia 6-2 205 1 Bay Roberts, Nfld.
Defence Sam Roberts StFX 6-0 - 2 Ottawa, Ont.
Defence Ian Turner St. Thomas 6-1 210 4 Belleville, Ont.

Forward Brandon Benedict Acadia 5-9 195 4 Avondale, N.S.
Forward Darryl Boyce UNB 6-0 205 2 Summerside, P.E.I.
Forward Pierre-André Bureau Moncton 5-10 185 2 St-Prosper, Que.
Forward Karl Fournier Moncton 5-9 190 3 Ile-Bizard, Que.
Forward Rob Hennigar UNB 5-11 195 3 Jordan, Ont.
Forward Pierre-Luc Laprise Moncton 6-1 195 4 Jonquière, Que.
Forward Stuart MacRae StFX 6-2 - 4 Coxheath, N.S.
Forward Kyle McAllister St. Thomas 6-3 205 5 Cornwall, Ont.
Forward Marc Rancourt Saint Mary's 6-1 190 2 Gloucester, Ont.
Forward Dan Rudisuela Saint Mary's 5-9 175 3 St. Catharines, Ont.
Forward Colin Sinclair UNB 6-1 205 4 Brooks, Alta.
Forward Tom Zanoski Dalhousie 5-10 - 2 Brampton, Ont.

Staff

Head coach: Trevor Stienburg, Saint Mary's
Assistant coach: Darren Burns, Acadia
Assistant coach: Gardiner MacDougall, UNB
General manager: Chris Larsen
Equipment manager: Joe Glenn, UNB
Athletic therapist: Chad Newhook, Saint Mary's



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