The reigning Olympic gold medalists are hoping for a repeat performance at the upcoming Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

Hockey Canada has announced the 36 players invited to an Orientation Camp that will run from August 15-20 in Vancouver and Kelowna, BC.

The purpose of the Orientation Camp is to provide the players with detailed information about the Olympic Games, the tournament schedule and format, the travel and lodging, as well as the drug testing policies.

Though the National Hockey League has not officially committed to sending NHL players to participate in the Olympics in February, reports have indicated that the League will allow players to attend. The League is also considering cancelling the 2006 All Star game scheduled for February 4-5 since the Olympics will begin February 10-26; it would be difficult to incorporate both events into the schedule.

Team Canada’s Executive Director Wayne Gretzky, Assistant Executive Director Kevin Lowe, Director of Player Personnel Steve Tambellini, head coach Pat Quinn and assistant coaches Jacques Martin, Ken Hitchcock, Wayne Fleming and Marc Habsceid were all involved in selecting the players invited.

Of the 36 players invited, 19 participated in the IIHF World Hockey Championships in Austria this past April, 26 players were on Canada’s 2004 World Cup roster and 14 players were apart of the 2002 Olympic team that captured gold in Salt Lake City.

Team Canada will play their first game against the host nation, Italy on February 15, 2006.

36-man Orientation Camp Roster:

GOALTENDERS:
-Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)
-Roberto Luongo (Florida)
-Jose Theodore (Montreal)
-Marty Turco (Dallas)

DEFENCE:
-Rob Blake (Colorado)
-Jay Bouwmeester (Florida)
-Dan Boyle (Tampa Bay)
-Eric Brewer (Edmonton)
-Adam Foote (Colorado)
-Scott Hannan (San Jose)
-Ed Jovanovski (Vancouver)
-Scott Niedermayer (New Jersey)
-Chris Phillips (Ottawa)
-Chris Pronger (St. Louis)
-Wade Redden (Ottawa)
-Robyn Regehr (Calgary)

FORWARDS:
-Shane Doan (Phoenix)
-Kris Draper (Detroit)
-Simon Gagne (Philadelphia)
-Dany Heatley (Atlanta)
-Jarome Iginla (Calgary)
-Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay)
-Mario Lemieux (Pittsburg)
-Kirk Maltby (Detroit)
-Patrick Marleau (San Jose)
-Brenden Morrow (Dallas)
-Rick Nash (Columbus)
-Michael Peca (NY Islanders)
-Keith Primeau (Philadelphia)
-Brad Richards (Tampa Bay)
-Joe Sakic (Colorado)
-Ryan Smyth (Edmonton)
-Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay)
-Alex Tanguay (Colorado)
-Joe Thornton (Boston)
-Steve Yzerman (Detroit)






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