November 8, 1997
NR.116

SLOVAKIA EDGES NATIONAL MEN'S TEAM 2-1 AT
DEUTSCHLAND CUP

MUNICH, Germany -- Slovakia got goals by Lubomir Sekeras and Jan Pardavy to overcome a 1-0 first-period deficit and beat Canada's Men's National Team 2-1 on Saturday at the Deutschland Cup tournament.

Mickey Elick of Calgary had given Canada the one-goal lead when he scored at 9:16 of the first period on a setup by longtime National Hockey League sniper Mike Bullard of Ottawa, who is playing for Landshut of the German Elite League this season. But Canada was unable to solve Slovakia's starting goalie Igor Murin after that.

The loss left Canada with a 1-1 won-lost record in the four-team round-robin tournament as they head into their final game today (Sunday) against the host German National Team. Canada defeated Switzerland in Friday's tournament opener 4-1.

Bullard is one of seven players, including 1996-97 team captain Dean Evason, of Calgary, who were added to the Canadian roster for the tournament. The other call-ups for the tournament were defencemen Derek Mayer of Rossland, BC, Darren Rumble of Barrie, ON, and Stephane Richer, of Hull, QC, as well as forwards Rich Chernomaz of Selkirk, MB and Gino Cavallini of Toronto.

Evason, team captain of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 1997 World Hockey Championship in Helsinki last spring, is playing for Landshut of the German Elite League this season, along with Cavallini and Bullard. Chernomaz is playing for Schwenigan and Mayer for Eisbaren Berlin, while both Rumble and Richer are with Mannheim.

Following the Deutschland Cup, Canada's National Team will travel to France for a pair of games against the French National Team before flying back to Calgary on Nov. 13. They will then spend two weeks training at their home base at Father David Bauer Arena at the Royal Bank Canadian Hockey Centre.