CALGARY, Alta. - Assistant Executive Director Lanny McDonald and Head Coach Wayne Fleming announced that defenceman Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators has been added to Canada's Men's World Championship roster.

"Wade is a terrific addition to our blueline," said Lanny McDonald. "He brings lots of international experience, having participated in two World Junior Hockey Championships and the 1999 World Championship in Norway."

Redden, 23, has just completed his fifth season in the NHL. The native of Lloydminster, SK, was Ottawa's top scoring defenceman this year, with 10 goals and 26 assists. Redden won consecutive gold medals with Canada's National Junior Team in 1995 and 1996, and played for Canada at the 1999 World Championship in Norway.

Redden's addition brings Canada's roster to sixteen players (3 goaltenders, 4 defenseman and 9 forwards).

Executive Director Wayne Gretzky, along with McDonald and Head Coach Fleming will continue to monitor the NHL playoff situation, and plan to name additional players to the roster as the first round of the NHL playoffs come to an end.

Canada departs today, April 19th, for Finland, and will play two exhibition games: versus Finland on April 23, and versus Sweden in Stockholm on April 24th.

The 2001 Men's World Hockey Championship runs April 28 - in Hannover, Cologne and Nurnberg, Germany. Canada will be based in Hannover, and will open the Championship on April 28 versus Norway.

Canada won two gold medals in the 1990's at the World Hockey Championship - 1994 and again in 1997. Canada finished fourth last year at Men's World Hockey Championship in St.Petersburg, Russia, and fourth in 1999 in Norway.