Injured McGill sniper to miss World University Games
Jan. 19, 2011

MONTREAL - A leg injury to Francis Verreault-Paul, an all-Canadian forward with the McGill Redmen will prevent the nation's leading goal scorer from competing for Canada in men's hockey at the 24th Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey, from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6.

Verreault-Paul, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound left-winger from Mashteuiatsh, Que., was leading the CIS scoring race with 27 goals and 40 points in 17 games before being injured in the third period of McGill's exhibition game at UNB, Dec. 30. He played and scored in McGill's next game, a 3-2 overtime win at Ottawa, Jan. 8, but since then has missed the team's next two contests, at Concordia (Jan. 9) and against Carleton (Jan. 14). He will not dress for tonight's home game versus Carleton and his status is considered doubtful for Friday's home game against UQTR.

The 22-year-old science junior was one of four Redmen players slated to leave for Turkey on Jan, 23, along with team captain Evan Vossen of Swift Current, Sask., all-Canadian defenceman Marc-Andre Dorion of St. Hubert, Que., and centre Maxime Langelier-Parent of Lery, Que.

The Canadian team, composed of players from the OUA conference, will also be without forward Aaron Snow of Western Ontario who had to withdraw due to injury. Taking their place in the lineup are forwards Matthieu Methot of Ottawa and Ryan Berard of Carleton.

Methot, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior from Ottawa, is enjoying a spectacular campaign with the Gee-Gees. The former Ottawa 67's ranks fifth in OUA scoring and seventh in the country with 35 points (14-21-35) in 21 conference games. He joins uOttawa teammate, defenceman Dominic Jalbert, on the Universiade team.

Berard, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., has also put up solid offensive numbers for the Ravens this season with 26 points (6-20-26) in 20 OUA contests. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior, who played with four OHL teams including Sarnia and Barrie in his final major junior campaign, joins Carleton teammate, forward Brandon MacLean, on the Canadian roster.

Canada goes into the World University Games tournament as reigning silver medalist after dropping a 4-2 decision to archrival Russia at the 2009 final in Harbin, China. Two years before in Turin, Italy, Canada defeated the Russians 3-1 in the gold medal match to capture their third-ever Universiade title, following triumphs in 1991 (Sapporo, Japan) and in 1981 (Jaca, Spain).

The Canadians are set to kick off the tourney against Slovenia on Jan. 27. The gold-medal final is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time on Feb. 6.

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/winter

2011 Winter Universiade website: www.erzurum2011.gov.tr/english

TEAM CANADA ROSTER
Name University Elig. Hometown Previous Team

Goaltenders

Anthony Grieco Western 2 Brampton, Ont. Victoria (BCHL)

Jim Watt Windsor 4 Edmonton, Alta. Spokane (WHL)

Defence

Scott Aarssen Western 2 London, Ont. London (OHL)

Marc-André Dorion McGill 3 St-Hubert, Que. Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

Dominic Jalbert Ottawa 1 Hull, Que. Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Geoff Killing Western 3 Embro, Ont. Belleville (OHL)

Tim Priamo Guelph 2 Guelph, Ont. Guelph (OHL)

Jordan Smith Lakehead 5 Sault St. Marie, Ont. Portland (AHL)

Kyle Sonnenburg Waterloo 4 Waterloo, Ont. Brampton (OHL)

Forwards

Kevin Baker Western 3 Georgetown, Ont. Oshawa (OHL)

Ryan Berard Carleton 3 Niagara Falls, Ont. Barrie (OHL)

Matt Caria Lakehead 2 Sault St. Marie, Ont. Utah (ECHL)

Francis Charland UQTR 3 Victoriaville, Que. Valleyfield Jr

Yashar Farmanara Western 3 West Vancouver, B.C. Medicine Hat (WHL)

Thomas Kiriakou Guelph 2 Richmond Hill, Ont. Ottawa (OHL)

Maxime Langelier-Parent McGill 3 Montreal, Que. Gatineau (QMJHL)

Brandon MacLean Carleton 3 Burlington, Ont. Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Matthieu Methot Ottawa 3 Ottawa, Ont. Ottawa (OHL)

Chris Ray Waterloo 4 Kelowna, B.C. Kelowna (WHL)

Jean-Michel Rizk Laurier 4 Durham, Que. Mississauga (OHL)

Keaton Turkiewicz Western 3 Brantford, Ont. Belleville (OHL)

Evan Vossen McGill 4 Swift Current, Sask. La Ronge (SJHL)

Out due to injuries:

Aaron Snow Western 3 Windsor, Ont. Sarnia (OHL)

Francis Verreault-Paul McGill 3 Mashteuiatsh, Que. Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Staff

General Manager: Brian Bourque, Waterloo

Head Coach: Clarke Singer, Western

Assistant Coach: Kevin Figsby, Concordia

Assistant Coach: Shawn Camp, Guelph

Equipment Manager: Bob McLeod, Western

Therapist: Gunner Obrascos, Guelph

Video Coordinator: Cam O'Donnell, Western

TEAM CANADA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (local time)

Thursday, Jan. 27, 16:00: Canada vs. Slovenia

Saturday, Jan. 29, 20:00: Canada vs. Belarus

Monday, Jan. 31, 20:00: Canada vs. Korea

Thursday, Feb. 3, TBD: Quarter-finals

Saturday, Feb. 5, 16:30: Semifinal #1

Saturday, Feb. 5, 20:00: Semifinal #2

Sunday, Feb. 6, 11:30: Bronze

Sunday, Feb. 6, 15:00: Final