CALGARY, AB – Team Canada’s World Cup of Hockey 2004 Executive Director Wayne Gretzky, along with Canada’s management and coaching staff, announced on Thursday that San Jose Sharks defenseman Scott Hannan has been named to Team Canada’s roster for the World Cup of Hockey 2004.

Hannan replaces Rob Blake on Canada’s roster after Team Canada officials were informed on Tuesday that Blake could not participate in the World Cup of Hockey due to injury.

“We are very fortunate to have so many great Canadian players to chose from, not only when we first named our team in May, but also in an injury situation like this, “said Gretzky. “Scott had a great season and an outstanding playoff run with the Sharks, and we are pleased to name him to Team Canada for the World Cup of Hockey.”

The World Cup of Hockey 2004 will mark the first time that Hannan has represented Canada at an international competition. All but two of Team Canada’s players (St. Louis and Hannan) have previously played for their country on the international stage.

Canada’s roster for the World Cup of Hockey 2004 includes 26 players (3 goalies, 8 defensemen and 15 forwards).

Hannan, a native of Richmond, BC, has played five NHL seasons and 348 career NHL games, all with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. In 2003-04, Hannan led the Sharks to the NHL’s Western Conference finals during the NHL playoffs with +7 and six points in 17 playoff games. Hannan played in all (82) regular season games in 2003-2004, posting a career high in goals (6), shots on goal (114) and leading the Sharks in average ice time (23:39) for the second straight season. Hannan served as the Sharks Alternate Captain for the season’s first 10-game segment and was named “Sharks Player of the Month” for the month of October.

Team Canada’s training camp will open on August 20th in Ottawa, ON at the University of Ottawa, where the team will train for three days and then relocate to the Corel Centre. Canada will play its first game of the World Cup of Hockey 2004 on August 31 versus Team USA at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Tickets are on sale for Team Canada’s exhibition games in Ottawa, and the Team Canada International Series:

Wednesday, August 25, 2004 Canada vs. USA 7:30pm ET Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON
Saturday, August 28, 2004 Canada vs. Slovakia 7:00pm ET Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON
Sunday, August 29, 2004 Russia vs. Slovakia 7:00pm ET Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON

Three game ticket packages and individual tickets can be purchased by the general public on-line at www.capitaltickets.ca, by calling 613-599-FANS or by calling toll free: 1-877-788-FANS. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Corel Centre box office and at all Sports Expert locations in Ottawa-Gatineau.

For more information on Team Canada, please visit the official web site of Hockey Canada: www.hockeycanada.ca. For information on the World Cup of Hockey 2004, visit www.wch2004.com.