Andrée Leblanc from Daveluyville, Quebec and Rick Jones from St. Catharines, Ontario are two amazing volunteers who have been recognized in 2009 for their outstanding involvement in minor hockey. RBC Insurance, with support from Hockey Canada and Hockey Hall of Fame, also also rewarded 12 other hockey volunteers, one for each Hockey Canada branch and an RBC employee, all of whom were nominated for their selfless commitment to minor hockey by members in their local communities.

Each winner will receive a signed Team Canada jersey and $10,000 to use towards a registered charity or hockey cause in their community. They will also be recognized in a permanent display at the Hockey Hall of Fame which will be unveiled on June 16 during a special ceremony. In 2010, as a special reward, these 14 volunteers will get the unique chance to carry the Olympic Flame with a team of up to 20 individuals in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada.

Winners were selected from hundreds of nominations by a panel including president and CEO of RBC Insurance Neil Skelding, National Women’s Team member Jayna Hefford, National Men’s Ice Sledge Hockey Team captain Jean Labonté, hockey legend Ron Ellis, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games executive vice president Dave Cobb, Hockey Canada acting chair Ken Corbett and other Hockey Canada officials.

Andrée’s story

Hockey has been part of Andree Leblanc’s life since she was young. Every Saturday morning, she accompanied her father to the local arena where he coached a pee-wee team. “The players were like brothers to me and my sisters,” she said. Leblanc also played with friends in her teen years.

For the past 17 years, she’s volunteered with l’Association du Hockey Mineur Daveluyville and sat on the board of directors as vice-president, governor, registrar, manager of two hockey teams and supervisor of all tournaments in the Bois-Francs sector in the Estrie region. “My father gave me his passion for hockey and I give it to my children through my volunteering and my support by attending all of their games,” said Leblanc.

“She’s a very important volunteer who always succeeds, even while raising four children, in ensuring that our village’s minor hockey association shows a positive image of the sport and of [demonstrating] the pleasure that players and parents can experience in the sport,” wrote Jérome Sicard in the nomination essay for his mother. Her current dream is to host the Dodge Cup in 2010 and she’s putting in long hours preparing the bid for the association.

Her motivation to give time, energy and knowledge to minor hockey comes from youth. “I care about youth who love this sport and want to play in the best possible conditions. I adore hockey and I want to pass on this passion to everyone I meet so that there is a continuity in this sport,” she explained.

Rick’s story

It was normal for Rick Jones to play ice and road hockey year round with his family of 10 brothers and sisters. Jones started volunteering about 30 years ago in the St. Catharines community by coaching the Special Olympics Baseball program. “I was asked to help out on third base and I was hooked from that moment on. My brother Brian has a developmental disability and he started to play baseball. This kept me interested, knowing that he could participate in sport like the rest of us,” he said.

Among his long list of accomplishments in the last few years, Jones initiated a program—the St. Catharines Special Needs Hockey Program—for the mentally challenged children and adults in the Niagara region that falls under the Catholic Youth Organization Hockey Association. He’s involved in all aspects of the program including coaching, mentoring, sitting on the board of directors and organizing the Program’s annual golf tournament fundraiser.

Mark Middleton, who nominated Jones for the RBC award wrote, “As a parent of a mentally disabled child, I don’t know what my son would be doing for enjoyment and sport if Rick hadn’t started this hockey program. This is not just a hockey team, but a place where disabled children and adults can socialize with their peers.”

“Whenever I see a special needs athlete cheering because the other team scored, I get goose bumps and it reaffirms my commitment to help people understand the true meaning of sportsmanship through the examples these kids show game after game,” said Jones who is also the president of the board of directors for Community Living St. Catharines.

Incredible feeling

Andrée and Rick both have trouble believing they will carry the Olympic Flame.

“It’s a dream for me. It’s an honour and I’m so proud. I feel like a kid and I’m counting down the days!” said Leblanc.

Jones said, “I’ve been a fan of the Olympic Games all of my life and to be able to say that I carried the Olympic Flame is one thing I know most people will never get to do. I will cherish this opportunity; it is a chance of a lifetime.”

Both of them want to use RBC $10,000 monetary award for projects of their hockey associations wisely. Jones will use the money for a trip to England for the annual Special Hockey International tournament in two years. “Our team has always wanted to attend this event, but money was always an issue. This will bring us closer than ever to our goal.” Leblanc wants to use the money for projects that will directly benefit the association and youth.

Today, Hockey Canada unveiled the Team Canada 2010 hockey jerseys, the result of a creative partnership between Hockey Canada, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC). Made by Nike Canada, this jersey will be worn at the 2010 Winter Games by the Canadian men’s and women’s ice hockey and ice sledge hockey teams.

“We are very proud to unveil the new Team Canada hockey jerseys that our hockey athletes will wear to help bring back the gold,” says Maria Montaño, general manager, Nike Canada. “We expect fans will love it, especially since they will be able to see it in action on home ice.”

In collaboration with Musqueam artist Debra Sparrow, Nike Canada designed a jersey that incorporates historical Canadian imagery with a contemporary look. Within a central maple leaf crest are smaller maple leafs, symbolizing the gold medal count for Canada’s men’s and women’s Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey teams. Other symbolism includes a hockey player with a stick in hand and two powerful First Nations icons — the thunderbird and eagle — supporting the central maple leaf. The Team Canada 2010 Olympic jersey also features a new interpretation of the Vancouver 2010 inukshuk and COC marks on the sleeve and tail. Team Canada’s 2010 Paralympic Winter Games jersey features the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games emblem and the CPC logo.

“Working with our partners at Nike, we have developed a design that — while not a major departure from our current jersey — incorporates imagery in a different and meaningful way,” says Scott Smith, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer. “We believe that the jersey honours the game of hockey and also celebrates our rich Canadian history and culture. Our teams and fans across the country will be proud to wear it during this special moment in 2010”.

There will be two versions of the jersey — one in red and one in white — that the teams will wear during competition at the 2010 Winter Games. And whether you’re watching the Games from your home chesterfield, at the pub with friends or in person at the venue, Team Canada jerseys are an easy way to show Canadian spirit.

With a suggested retail price of $135, the Team Canada 2010 Olympic replica jerseys are available today in Nike stores across Canada, The Olympic Store at vancouver2010.com, Hudson’s Bay Company Bay stores, and later this fall at Olympic Stores in Vancouver, Whistler, and the Vancouver International Airport. They will also be sold in the Olympic Superstore at the Bay Downtown Vancouver and hockey venue concession stands operated at Games time by VANOC’s merchandise concessionaire, XP Canada ULC.

Moscow (AFP) –

 The squad, named by the Russian Hockey Federation, is made up of 14 players from the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America and nine from the home-based Continental Hockey League (KHL).

 Russia squad:

 Goaltenders: Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes), Semyon Varlamov (Washington Capitals), Yevgeny Nabokov (San Jose Sharks).

 Defenders: Anton Volchenkov (Ottawa Senators), Sergei Gonchar (Pittsburgh Penguins), Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton Oilers), Dmitry Kalinin (Salavat Yulaev), Konstantin Korneyev (CSKA), Andrei Markov (Montreal Canadians), Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars), Fyodor Tyutin (Columbus Blue Jackets).

 Forwards: Maxim Afinogenov (Atlanta Thrashers), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars), Sergei Zinovyev (Salavat Yulaev), Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers), Viktor Kozlov (Salavat Yulaev), Yevgeny Malkin (Pittsburg Penguins), Alexei Morozov (Ak Bars), Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulae), Alexander Syomin (Washington Capitals), Sergei Fyodorov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk).

Stockholm (AFP) –

 Gustafsson included Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson in his squad despite the influential centre being ruled out for four to six weeks on Saturday with a separated left shoulder.

 Sweden beat Finland in the 2006 Turin Olympic final to win the gold medal with the Czechs beating Russia for bronze. Olympic hosts Canada finished a disappointing seventh.

 Goalkeepers: Jonas Gustavsson (Toronto Maple Leafs/NHL), Stefan Liv (HV 71), Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers/NHL)

 Defenders: Tobias Enstrom (Atlanta Thrashers/NHL), Magnus Johansson (Linkopings HC), Niklas Kronwall (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Douglas Murray (San Jose Sharks/NHL), Johnny Oduya (New Jersey Devils/NHL), Henrik Tallinder (Buffalo Sabres/NHL), Mattias Ohlund (Tampa Bay Lightning/NHL)

 Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators/NHL), Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals/NHL), Loui Eriksson (Dallas Stars/NHL), Peter Forsberg (MODO Hockey), Tomas Holmstrom (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Patric Hornqvist (Nashville Predators/NHL), Fredrik Modin (Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL), Samuel Paahlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL), Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks/NHL), Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks/NHL), Mattias Weinhandl (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings/NHL)

Boston (AFP) –

 A strong goaltending presence includes Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, who is second among NHL starting goalies in goals-against average (2.05) and first in save percentage (.933).

 He will be joined by reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings.

 Team USA general manager Brian Burke stuck to his plans to bring in new blood, meaning there was no room for Olympic veterans such as Mike Modano and Bill Guerin.

 The squad includes seven players who have won gold in international competition, but only three players with past Olympic experience – New York’s Chris Drury, Detroit’s Brian Rafalski and New Jersey’s Jamie Langenbrunner.

 Our management group has worked hard to put together a group of players that will give us the best chance to win the gold medal in Vancouver and we feel like we’ve done that,” Burke said.

 ”We had some difficult decisions to make, but that’s a credit to USA Hockey and depth of the player pool in our country.”

 Forwards on the team include Chicago’s Patrick Kane, New Jersey’s Zach Parise and Colorado’s Paul Stastny, who are currently the top three US point-getters in the National Hockey League.

 At 21, Kane is the youngest player on the team.

 Since the Olympic ice hockey competition began including National Hockey League players in 1998, six countries have played in the gold medal game.

 Sweden defeated Finland to win gold at Turin in 2006. Canada won gold in 2002 with a triumph over the United States in Salt Lake City. The Czech Republic beat Russia in 1998.

 USA Hockey named their 23-man squad of NHL talent for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics on Friday:

 Goaltenders: Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)

 Defensemen: Erik Johnson (St Louis Blues), Jack Johnson (Los Angeles Kings), Mike Komisarek (Toronto Maple Leafs), Paul Martin (New Jersey Devils), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh Penguins), Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings), Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators)

 Forwards: David Backes (St. Louis Blues), Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings), Ryan Callahan (New York Rangers), Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks), Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils), Ryan Malone (Tampa Bay Lightning), Zack Parise (New Jersey Devils), Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche)

Denver (AFP) –

Hejduk, 33, has 15 goals and 15 assists in 40 games for the Avalanche, having missed six games due to the injury, which could sideline him until the National Hockey League’s mid-season break for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

Losing Hejduk could be a major setback for the Czech Republic at Vancouver. Hejduk played in the past three Olympic Winter Games, helping the Czechs claim gold at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Newark (AFP) –

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said Elias, who has scored 10 goals in 32 games this season, was examined by a neurologist and will be re-examined later this week.

Elias was injured Saturday when checked in the chin by Colorado defenseman Ryan Wilson.

The Czech squad won Olympic gold at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games, the first to use active NHL talent thanks to a league shutdown, and defeated Russia to capture the bronze medal at the 2006 Turin Olympic Winter Games.

The Devils have 32 wins in 47 games to lead the NHL’s Atlantic Division.