Jordan Eberle puts on a Edmonton Oilers jersey after being chosen as their first round draft pick at the NHL draft in Ottawa on Friday, June 20, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Jordan Eberle is one off 22 players that have been named by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) to Canada’s National Junior Team for the upcoming 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, from December 26, 2008 – January 5, 2009.

Eberle, the Oilers first choice in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, is enjoying an outstanding season with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. The 5’10”, 181 pound forward is currently 12th in the WHL scoring race with 23-19-42 in 33 games for the Pats and is fourth in goal scoring. A member of the WHL East Division first all-star team in 2007-08, Eberle scored 4-6-10 in seven games for Team Canada at the 2008 World U-18 championship.

To view Canada’s 2009 National Junior Team roster, go to www.hockeycanada.ca.

Canada’s National Junior Team includes four players (Boychuk, Hickey, Subban, Tavares) who won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

Eighteen of the players have previous international experience, including 12 players who played with Canada’s National Under-18 Team and 18 who played with Canadian regional Under-17 teams at either the World Under-17 Challenge or the Canada Winter Games.

Twenty of the players named to the final roster were drafted in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including 10 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 Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th versus the Czech Republic.

TSN, TSN HD and TSN.ca, along with RDS, RDS HD and RDS.ca have live coverage of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, airing December 26 to January 5 from Ottawa.

Team Canada games will also be broadcast LIVE on the FAN radio network.
 
Canada has medaled in 10-straight World Junior 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. 

For more information on the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, or Canada’s National Junior Team, visit Hockey Canada’s official website www.hockeycanada.ca.

The Edmonton Oilers 30th Anniversary Season is presented in part by the Rexall Family of Pharmacies, Bell, Molson Canadian, ATB Financial and Ford.