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Daniel Morin
The University of Ottawa will welcome an unprecedented bevy of hockey superstars this summer, as it will lend its facilities for Team Canada’s training camp for the 2004 World Cup.
The University will also house the training camp for Slovakia’s team, which is expected to feature Senators’ star forwards Marian Hossa and Peter Bondra, along with defensive stalwart Zdeno Chara.
Ottawa’s defenceman Wade Redden and centre Jason Spezza will likely be invited to Team Canada’s training camp, which will open on August 20 at the University of Ottawa. The team will train here for three days before moving to the Corel Centre.
Slovakia will then have its training camp at the Sports Complex, from August 25 until the start of the tournament five days later.
“We’re very excited to play a role in (Team Canada’s) quest to bring a World Cup title home to all Canadians,” said rector Gilles Patry.
The camps are sure to draw a huge crowd of media and fans eager to meet up with their idols, said Sports Services official Jonathan Greenan.
“It will be something very special because for 10 days we will be talking about all the great things that happen in the game and all the great role models that we have putting on the Canadian jersey,” said Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson.
The March 12 announcement came just as the Gee-Gees’ women’s and men’s hockey teams – both vying for Canadian interuniversity national titles – were enjoying one of their best seasons.
The women’s team overcame McGill and Concordia but lost 2-0 in the championship game against the University of Alberta Pandas.
The men’s team is set to compete in the CIS 2004 hockey championship March 25-28.
