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While the NHL season is over for the Phoenix Coyotes, many of the Desert Dogs will still be playing hockey.
Team Canada’s roster for the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championships in Switzerland was announced recently and three Phoenix Coyotes will be joining the team.
Shane Doan will once again be donning the Canadian hockey jersey as Captain Coyote will try to add to his international resume. He has captained the last two World Championship teams for Canada, winning a gold medal in 2007 and a silver in 2008. He will be looking to lead Canada back to the top of the podium for another gold medal. This will be Doan’s 6th time at the World Championships for Canada where he has two silver medals and two gold medals. Doan led the Coyotes in scoring this season with 31 goals and 42 assists for 73 points, a career high for Doaner.
Matthew Lombardi, acquired at the trade deadline by Phoenix from Calgary, will be joining Shane Doan in Switzerland. Lombardi was on Team Canada in 2007 when they won the gold medal. He was impressive for the Coyotes towards the end of the season as he tallied 16 points in 19 games. He finished with a total of 46 points on the season.
The third Coyote will be Scottie Upshall, who was also acquired at the trade deadline by Phoenix from the Philadelphia Flyers. Upshall has plenty of international experience in the World Junior Championships where he was a captain for Canada in 2003 when they won a silver medal. He played on four World Junior Championship teams, two in the U20 category and two with the U18 category. In 19 games with the Coyotes this season, Upshall scored 13 points. He finished the year with 34 total points.
In opposition to these three players, Mikkel Boedker will be representing his home country of Denmark in the competition. The only international experience that Boedker has was last year when he played for his home country in the World Junior Championships. Boedker had 28 points in his rookie campaign. With Denmark not having many big name players, Boedker will certainly be looked to provide alot of offense.
Look for more on the Coyotes in the World Championships later as other countries announce their rosters for the international competition, considered a warmup for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.
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