WINNIPEG, MB – On Monday, the Manitoba Moose, in conjunction with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League, announced the MTS Centre will be home to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection December 10 -15, 2004. Hockey Canada will also hold a Pre-Competition Camp in Gimli, MB from December 16-23, 2004.

As part of the Pre-competition camp, Team Canada will also take part in a three-game pre-competition series at the MTS Centre against Switzerland and Finland prior to the 2005 IIHF World Junior (U20) Hockey Championship. Dates, ticket information and start times for those games are listed below.

The 2005 IIHF World Junior (U20) Tournament takes place December 25th, 2004 to January 4th, 2005 in Grand Forks, ND and Thief River Falls, MN. Canada will play its first game Christmas Day vs. Slovakia, 3:35 p.m., at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, ND.

“The Manitoba Moose are honored to be involved in such an exciting part of our country’s hockey future,” said Moose General Manager & Vice-President Craig Heisinger. “The selection of the national junior team has become a much anticipated Christmas tradition throughout the country and this city’s pride in the national junior program was never more evident than back in 1999 when Winnipeg hosted the world juniors themselves. We anticipate similar enthusiasm for the upcoming selection camp.”

“We are extremely excited to return to Winnipeg as we prepare for this year’s World Junior Championship in North Dakota, “ said Denis Hainault, Director, Men’s High Performance Programs for Hockey Canada. “The support that the city of Winnipeg gave to our team in 1999 when the event was held there was outstanding and we look forward to preparing our team in such a great atmosphere and a beautiful new facility.”

Tickets for the pre-competition tournament will go on sale initially in September to all Manitoba Moose season-ticket holders. Tickets will subsequently go on sale to the general public at a later date. Tickets prices will range from $16 to $28. For more information on the pre-competition tournament, fans can call 987-PUCK (987-7825).

For further information visit, WWW.HOCKEYCANADA.CA .