December 31, 2008
NR.181

CANADA’S NATIONAL MEN’S TEAM FINISHES 2ND
AT 2008 SPENGLER CUP

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND – Canada’s National Men’s Team finished 2nd at the 2008 Spengler Cup after a 5-3 loss to Russian side Moscow Dynamo in Wednesday’s championship game.

Micki Dupont, Hnat Domenichelli and Randy Robitaille scored the goals for Canada, which twice got to within a goal of the Russians before ultimately settling for second place for the eighth time in 25 trips all-time to the tournament.

Canada reached the final after finishing first in the round robin, earning wins over Moscow Dynamo (6-3), Energie Karlovy Vary of the Czech Republic (3-1) and ERC Ingolstadt from Germany (5-2). The Canadians’ only defeat was a shootout loss to host side HC Davos (6-5).

Canadian captain Serge Aubin, who finished with two goals and four assists in five games, was the lone Canadian named to the tournament all-star team, joining goaltender Lukas Mensator of Energie Karlovy Vary, defencemen Razin Gennadi and Alexei Zhitnik of Moscow Dynamo and forwards Dmitri Afanasankov of Moscow Dynamo and Andres Ambühl of HC Davos.

Canada’s roster is comprised of Canadian-born players currently playing in Europe, along with NHL prospects loaned to Hockey Canada from National Hockey League teams. The team was selected by Johnny Misley, Hockey Canada’s executive vice-president of hockey operations, along with head coach Sean Simpson and assistant coaches Serge Pelletier and Russ Courtnall.

Wednesday’s game marked the eighth time in nine years Canada has appeared in the championship game. Overall, Canada’s National Men’s Team has won the Spengler Cup 11 times (1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007), since first taking part in the tournament in 1984.

The Spengler Cup, held annually since 1923, is the oldest professional international hockey tournament in the world.