VIENNA – Team Canada won the silver medal at the Men’s World Hockey Championship after a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Canada was seeking its third straight world championships since the Edmonton Mercurys won in 1950, the Lethbridge Maple Leafs took it in 1951 and Mercurys won again at the 1952 Winter Olympics, which also served as the world championship.

Joe Thornton was the tournament leading scorer with nine goals and 16 points earned him Most Valuable Player honours, as voted by the media on-site, while Teammate Wade Redden was awarded with Top Defenceman by the Championship Directorate.

Joe Thornton, the leading scorer of the World Hockey Championship with 16 points in 9 games, led the way for Canada offensively throughout the Championship, while Rick Nash chipped in to hold the second place in overall championship scoring with 15 points. Canada’s Simon Gagne finished the championship with ten points, giving Canadian players the 1-2-3 rank in overall scoring at this year’s championship.

Thornton now ranks in third place in Team Canada record book for most points all-time in one World Hockey Championship, behind Steve Yzerman (20 – 1990) and Eric Lindros (17 – 1993), while Rick Nash ranks in tied for fourth place in the same category.

Dany Heatley also moved into a tied for 2nd spot in career points all-time for Canada at the World Championship, with 32, tying Marcel Dionne and behind only Steve Yzerman with 39.

The majority of Team Canada’s players and staff will not be returning to Canada this week, as they have alternate travel plans to stay in Europe or personal travel. However, the players and staff that will be returning to Canada on Monday, May 16 will be posted at www.hockeycanada.ca, with all flights subject to change. Limited media availability will be available upon landing in Canada on May 16th with Canada’s players and staff.

For more information on Team Canada, visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or go to the event web site at www.ihwc.net.