West Vancouver's Morgan Rielly has been named to the initial roster for Canada's National Men's Team for the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships scheduled for May 9-25.
This week Hockey Canada announced the first group of 20 players who will suit up for the championships, including Kevin Bieksa, Jason Garrison and Alexandre Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks and other NHL stars from non-playoff teams such as Rielly's Toronto teammates James Reimer and Nazem Kadri and former Canuck Cody Hodgson, now with the Buffalo Sabres.
Rielly, 20, is coming off his rookie NHL season with the Maple Leafs. He played in 73 games, scoring two goals while adding 25 assists. His 27 points was sixth highest in the league amongst rookie defenceman.
Team Canada was picked by a management group led by general manager Rob Blake.
"We are excited about the first group of players that have committed to representing Canada at the world championship," said Blake. "We have a good mix of experience and youth at both the professional and international level."
Countries have the option of adding additional players once teams are eliminated from the NHL playoffs. Canada is in a group with France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Sweden and Norway. Their first game will be May 9 against France.
