The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins have made goaltender Marc-Andr Fleury available to Canada's National Junior Team, Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Monday. Fleury will attend Canada's selection camp December 11-18, 2003 in Kitchener, ON. With this announcement, Canada's selection camp roster now stands at 35 players (5 goaltenders, 12 defencemen, 18 forwards). A final roster of 22 players will represent Canada at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship December 26-January 5, 2004 in Finland. Additional players may be invited to attend the selection camp, but as per Hockey Canada's National Junior Team policy, additional players must be in attendance for the start of the selection camp (December 11, 2003). Fleury, 19, was Pittsburgh's first round pick, 1st overall, in the June 2003 NHL Entry Draft. The native of Sorel, QC was the NHL's Rookie of the Month for October 2003, and was named one of the three game stars in nine of his 15 starts to date. The former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle (QMJHL) won a silver medal with Canada's National Junior Team at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax, NS where he was named Top Goaltender and was named to the IIHF Directorate All-Star Team. Fleury won a gold medal with Canada's National Under-18 Team at the 2001 Six Nations Cup and played for Quebec at the 2001 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in New Glasgow, NS. "General Manager Craig Patrick and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been very professional and up front with us throughout this process," said Hockey Canada president, Bob Nicholson. "It is clear that the Penguins were very happy with Marc-Andr's development last year and believe that another World Junior experience can only enhance his development."
