On Monday, Team Canada announced the majority of their roster for the 2005 IIHF World Championships. All 3 goalies, 12 of 13 forwards, and 7 defencemen were named. Of the defencemen, Canadiens’ D Sheldon Souray, who is still playing in the Swedish Elite League Finals, was added to the roster. His role figures to be on the 3rd defence pairing.
Although earlier reports indicated that they may have a shot, Montreal winger Michael Ryder and centre Mike Ribeiro were not named to the team today. However, GM Steve Tambellini has left a roster spot open that will be named prior to April 30th’s contest vs Latvia, depending on the health of Tampa Bay C Brad Richards and Buffalo C Daniel Briere. If those 2 players are unable to go, both Canadiens players figure to have a reasonable chance of securing the last invite.
Several other nations have not yet selected their roster. Several Montreal Canadiens figure to be in the running for spots on these teams, such as: Jan Bulis and Radek Bonk (CZE), Andrei Markov and Alexei Kovalev (RUS), Richard Zednik and Marcel Hossa (SLO), and Niklas Sundstrom (SWE).
Team Canada Roster:
Goalies: Martin Brodeur (NJ), Roberto Luongo (FLA), Marty Turco (DAL)
Defence: Dan Boyle (TB), Scott Hannan (SJ), Ed Jovanovski (VAN), Chris Phillips (OTT), Wade Redden (OTT), Robyn Regehr (CAL), Sheldon Souray (MON)
Forwards: Shane Doan (PHX), Kris Draper (DET), Mike Fisher (OTT), Simon Gagne (PHI), Dany Heatley (ATL), Kirk Maltby (DET), Patrick Marleau (SJ), Brendan Morrison (VAN), Brenden Morrow (DAL), Rick Nash (CBJ), Ryan Smyth (EDM), Joe Thornton (BOS)
* 1 roster spot to be named