Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, April 13, 2009

Even after he worked 36 pressure-packed games, all in succession, and even though he played a total of 63 regular-season games for the Edmonton Oilers, goaltender Dwayne Roloson isn't ready to call it an off-season just yet.



Roloson, 39, and Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild will man the net for Canada, which opens the tournament against Belarus on April 24.

"Any time you can keep on playing, it feels like you're playing in the playoffs," said Roloson, who will be joined in Switzerland by teammate and centre Shawn Horcoff.

Returning from last spring's silver-medal winning squad in Quebec City are forwards Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators, Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Derek Roy of the Buffalo Sabres and Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes and defenceman Dan Hamhuis of the Nashville Predators.

Also named to the team Monday were forwards Colby Armstrong (Atlanta Thrashers), Mike Fisher (Ottawa), Matthew Lombardi (Phoenix), James Neal (Dallas Stars), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay) and Scottie Upshall (Phoenix).

Nashville's Shea Weber will anchor a blue-line that also includes Chris Phillips of the Senators, Ian White of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and youngsters Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Luke Schenn of the Leafs, both only 19 years old.

Goaltender Fred Brathwaite, who played for Mannheim in Germany, and defenceman Joel Kwiatkowski, a member of Cherepovets of the Continental Hockey League in Russia will serve as alternates. Canada can carry a maximum of 25 players on its final roster.

"The management group and coaching staff is very encouraged by the roster that we have been able to assemble," said Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong, who named Buffalo's Lindy Ruff his head coach Sunday. "This is a group that has a great deal of international experience, while having a good combination of veterans and younger players."

Canada lost to Russia 5-4 in overtime in the gold-medal game at last year's event.

- With files from Edmonton Journal