Curtis Joseph to play in Spengler Cup

Veteran NHL goaltender Curtis Joseph was among the 22 players named Monday to Canada's roster for the Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland.

"We are extremely pleased to have Curtis back in a Canadian jersey for this year's Spengler Cup," Hockey Canada official Johnny Misley said in a statement. "Curtis is really looking forward to this experience and playing for his country once again."

Joseph, 40, played for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes over 17 NHL seasons.

The veteran netminder spent the past two NHL campaigns with the Coyotes, but became a free agent at the end of the 2006-07 season. He has yet to sign with another NHL club.

Joseph won an Olympic gold medal in 2002, and also played for Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the world hockey championship that same year.

Canada's Spengler Cup rosterconsists mainly of Canadian-born players currently playing in Europe and NHL prospects. The team includes four returnees from the 2006 Spengler Cup team— Shawn Heins, Dominic Pittis, Kirby Law and Danny Syvret.

"We are very excited about the players who we have assembled to represent Canada at the 2007 Spengler Cup," Misley said. "As a staff, we feel these players give Canada the best chance at winning another Spengler Cup championship."

This year's Spengler Cup will include Team Canada, Swiss club HC Davos, Adler Mannheim of Germany, HC Moeller Pardubice (Czech Republic) and Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia).

Canada's first game of the competition is on Boxing Day against HC Moeller Pardubice. The tournament's championship game is scheduled for Dec. 31.

Canada has appeared in six of the last seven championship games, winning the Spengler Cup in 2002 and 2003.

Overall, Canada has won the Spengler Cup 10 times (1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003) since first taking part in the tournament in 1984.

The Spengler Cup, held annually since 1923, is the oldest professional international hockey tournament in the world.