2011 Winter Universiade: CIS announces changes to Canadian men’s hockey roster

Photo credit Paul Conway

OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced Wednesday two rosters changes to the OUA all-star team that will represent Canada in men's hockey at the 24th Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey, from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6.

Originally selected to the red and white squad back in December, forwards Aaron Snow of Western Ontario and Francis Verreault-Paul of McGill both had to withdraw due to injuries. Taking their place in the lineup are forwards Matthieu Methot of Ottawa and Ryan Berard of Carleton.

Methot, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior from Ottawa, is enjoying a spectacular campaign with the Gee-Gees. The former Ottawa 67's ranks fifth in OUA scoring and seventh in the country with 35 points (14-21-35) in 21 conference games. He joins uOttawa teammate, defenceman Dominic Jalbert, on the Universiade team.

Berard, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., has also put up solid offensive numbers for the Ravens this season with 26 points (6-20-26) in 20 OUA contests. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior, who played with four OHL teams including Sarnia and Barrie in his final major junior campaign, joins Carleton teammate, forward Brandon MacLean, on the Canadian roster.

Canada goes into the World University Games tournament as reigning silver medalist after dropping a 4-2 decision to archrival Russia at the 2009 final in Harbin, China. Two years before in Turin, Italy, Canada defeated the Russians 3-1 in the gold medal match to capture their third-ever Universiade title, following triumphs in 1991 (Sapporo, Japan) and in 1981 (Jaca, Spain).

The Canadians are set to kick off the tourney against Slovenia on Jan. 27. The gold-medal final is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time on Feb. 6.

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/winter
2011 Winter Universiade website: www.erzurum2011.gov.tr/english

TEAM CANADA ROSTER

Name - University - Elig. - Hometown - Previous Team

Goaltenders
Anthony Grieco Western 2 Brampton, Ont. Victoria (BCHL)
Jim Watt Windsor 4 Edmonton, Alta. Spokane (WHL)

Defence
Scott Aarssen Western 2 London, Ont. London (OHL)
Marc-André Dorion McGill 3 St-Hubert, Que. Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
Dominic Jalbert Ottawa 1 Hull, Que. Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Geoff Killing Western 3 Embro, Ont. Belleville (OHL)
Tim Priamo Guelph 2 Guelph, Ont. Guelph (OHL)
Jordan Smith Lakehead 5 Sault St. Marie, Ont. Portland (AHL)
Kyle Sonnenburg Waterloo 4 Waterloo, Ont. Brampton (OHL)

Forwards
Kevin Baker Western 3 Georgetown, Ont. Oshawa (OHL)
Ryan Berard Carleton 3 Niagara Falls, Ont. Barrie (OHL)
Matt Caria Lakehead 2 Sault St. Marie, Ont. Utah (ECHL)
Francis Charland UQTR 3 Victoriaville, Que. Valleyfield Jr
Yashar Farmanara Western 3 West Vancouver, B.C. Medicine Hat (WHL)
Thomas Kiriakou Guelph 2 Richmond Hill, Ont. Ottawa (OHL)
Maxime Langelier-Parent McGill 3 Montreal, Que. Gatineau (QMJHL)
Brandon MacLean Carleton 3 Burlington, Ont. Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Matthieu Methot Ottawa 3 Ottawa, Ont. Ottawa (OHL)
Chris Ray Waterloo 4 Kelowna, B.C. Kelowna (WHL)
Jean-Michel Rizk Laurier 4 Durham, Que. Mississauga (OHL)
Keaton Turkiewicz Western 3 Brantford, Ont. Belleville (OHL)
Evan Vossen McGill 4 Swift Current, Sask. La Ronge (SJHL)

Out due to injuries:
Aaron Snow Western 3 Windsor, Ont. Sarnia (OHL)
Francis Verreault-Paul McGill 3 Mashteuiatsh, Que. Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Staff

General Manager: Brian Bourque, Waterloo
Head Coach: Clarke Singer, Western
Assistant Coach: Kevin Figsby, Concordia
Assistant Coach: Shawn Camp, Guelph
Equipment Manager: Bob McLeod, Western
Therapist: Gunner Obrascos, Guelph
Video Coordinator: Cam O'Donnell, Western

TEAM CANADA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (local time)

Thursday, Jan. 27, 16:00: Canada vs. Slovenia
Saturday, Jan. 29, 20:00: Canada vs. Belarus
Monday, Jan. 31, 20:00: Canada vs. Korea
Thursday, Feb. 3, TBD: Quarter-finals
Saturday, Feb. 5, 16:30: Semifinal #1
Saturday, Feb. 5, 20:00: Semifinal #2
Sunday, Feb. 6, 11:30: Bronze
Sunday, Feb. 6, 15:00: Final

-CIS-