Tue Apr 1 12:53:28 2008

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Team Canada selects Hitchcock as coach for World Championship

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Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock has been selected to guide Canada's entry for the 2008 World Championship.

This year's tournament is set for May 2-18 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Quebec.

"Getting to be a part of Hockey Canada is a great honor, especially anytime you get to work with a Canadian team on home ice, in front of Canadian fans," said Hitchcock.

A native of Edmonton, Hitchcock has represented Canada at numerous international competitions during his career. He served as an associate coach for Team Canada at the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games, winning the gold medal at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, and helped Canada win the World Cup of Hockey Tournament in 2004 as an associate coach.

"We are extremely excited that Ken will join us as head coach for the 2008 IIHF World Championship," said Team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman. "Ken's wealth of international experience should prove to be a tremendous asset to our team as we go forward toward what we hope will be a gold medal on home ice."

Hitchcock has a record of 470-311-117 in 898 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers and Dallas Stars. He guided Dallas to the 1999 Stanley Cup title, and when the Blue Jackets visit St. Louis on Saturday, he will become just the 20th head coach in NHL history to record 900 games behind the bench.