June 3, 1996
NR.047

TEAM CANADA TO FACE USA, RUSSIA AND SLOVAKIA IN EXHIBITION ACTION

VANCOUVER - Canadian Hockey announced today the complete four-game exhibition schedule for Team Canada, in preparation for the inaugural World Cup of Hockey, which includes two games against the Americans and one against Russia and Slovakia.

Team Canada, which boasts four-time Canada Cup veterans Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey, will face the United States in a home-and-away series, with the first game played on Tuesday, August 20, 7 pm at GM Place in Vancouver. The return game will be played at the San Jose Arena in California, Wednesday, August 21 at 7:30 pm.

Canada's third exhibition game will take them to the Saddledome in Calgary for a meeting against long-time rivals, Russia, on Sunday, August 25 at 6:30 pm. This game will be televised live on The Sports Network (TSN) and le Réseau des Sports (RDS).

The final preparation game for the Canadian squad will be against Slovakia at Edmonton Coliseum, Monday August 26 at 7:30 pm.

Each exhibition game in Canada is being organized in cooperation with the respective National Hockey League team in those cities.

Canada, Russia, Slovakia and the United States are all in the North American Pool, while the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and Sweden will meet in the European Pool during the World Cup of Hockey round-robin, from August 26 to September 3. The playoff rounds begin September 5 and run through to the best-of-three final on September 10 to 14

Canada's schedule during the preliminary round is as follows (all times local):
Thursday, August 29 - Canada vs Russia, 5:00 pm, Vancouver
Saturday, August 31 - USA vs Canada, 8:00 pm, Philadelphia
Sunday, September 1 - Canada vs Slovakia, 8:00 pm, Ottawa

Glen Sather, who led Canada to the Canada Cup championship in 1984 and who was general manager for the gold medal winning team at the 1994 World Championship, named on April 15 three goalkeepers, eight defencemen and 15 forwards to the Canadian squad.

The team will come together in Whistler, B.C. for the training camp from August 14 to 19 with daily practices at the Meadow Park Sports Centre.

In previous best-on-best competitions, centering primarily around Canada Cup rivalries, Canada faced the Americans eight times, winning seven and tying once. Against the former Soviet Union, the Canadians posted a five wins, three losses and two ties record. Canada never met Slovakia during the Canada Cup, but did play against Czechoslovakia, before the breakup of their country in 1993, recording five wins, one loss and two draws.

Team Canada Management:

Head of Team Delegation - Ron Robison, Canadian Hockey
General Manager - Glen Sather, Edmonton Oilers
Assistant General Managers -
Pat Quinn, Vancouver Canucks
Neil Smith, New York Rangers
Bob Gainey, Dallas Stars