OTTAWA – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Monday the 22 players that will make up Canada’s U20 national team for the upcoming 2009 IIHF World U20 Championship on home ice in Ottawa, from December 26, 2008 – January 5, 2009.

The roster includes four players (Boychuk, Hickey, Subban, Tavares) who won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World U20 Championship in the Czech Republic.

16 players were released from the selection camp and return to their respective club teams.

Twenty of the players named to the final roster were drafted in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including ten first-round selections and four second-round selections. Two players are eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Canada will play its first game of the 2009 IIHF World U20 Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th, against the Czech Republic.

Canada has medaled in ten straight World U20 Championships including gold medal performances in 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999, and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.  

TSN, TSN HD and TSN.ca, along with RDS, RDS HD and RDS.ca have live coverage of the 2009 IIHF World U20 Championship. Team Canada games will also be broadcast live on the FAN radio network.

Click here for Canada’s roster of the 2009 World U20 Championship.