With the European leagues wrapping up, entrant countries are starting to name and shape up their rosters for the upcoming World Championships in Austria.

Lots of news and notes to make note of.

Canada against the world - GM Steve Tambellini has named most of Canada's roster.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few players here who have been sitting on their asses the whole winter. I don't like the idea of taking any player who hasn't being playing professional hockey this year, and I think this will bite Canada in the behind when all is said and done.

There is also one spot left open for whomever Team Canada may want to add later (I hope it's not Bertuzzi)

Goaltenders:
Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
Marty Turco

Defense:
Ed Jovanovski
Wade Redden
Chris Phillips
Robyn Regehr
Scott Hannan
Dan Boyle
Sheldon Souray

Forwards:
Joe Thornton
Dany Heatley
Brendan Morrison
Rick Nash
Kris Draper
Shane Doan
Mike Fisher
Simon Gagne
Patrick Marleau
Brenden Morrow
Kirk Maltby
Ryan Smyth

Our enemies from the USA have a pretty good looking roster for this tournament (for once, eh!)

Goalies: Ty Conklin (Edmonton, Wolfsburg/DEL), Rick DiPietro (New York Islanders), Tim Thomas (Boston, Jokerit Helsinki/FIN).

Defensemen: Hal Gill (Boston, Lukko Rauma/FIN), Jordan Leopold (Calgary), John-Michael Liles (Colorado, Iserlohn/DEL), Paul Martin (New Jersey, Fribourg/NLA), Aaron Miller (Los Angeles), Andy Roach (St. Louis, Lausanne/NLA).

Forwards: Erik Cole (Carolina, Eisbären Berlin/DEL), Matt Cullen (Carolina, Cortina/ITA), Brian Gionta (New Jersey, Albany/AHL), Adam Hall (Nashville, KalPA Kuopio/FIN2), Jeff Halpern (Washington, Kloten/NLA), Mike Knuble (Philadelphia, Linköping/SWE), David Legwand (Nashville, Basel/NLB), Mike Modano (Dallas), Richard Park (Minnesota, SCL Tigers/NLA), Mark Parrish (New York Islanders), Doug Weight (St. Louis, Frankfurt/DEL), Mike York (Edmonton, Iserlohn/DEL).

The Czech team looks quite strong, and my pal David Schlegel has an in-depth preview over at Eurohockey.net

I have to say, however, that the Czech goaltending situation looks awfully weak right now. If we are going by this year's performances, then Tomas Vokoun, Adam Svoboda, and Milan Hnilicka are like a leaky drainpipe waiting to explode. Oh, and Milan Hejduk is skipping the WC's, in case you are one of his fanboys/girls.

Joeri from Eurohockey.net let me know that the following players won't be suiting up for Russia

Yevgeni Nabokov (ill wife)
Nikolai Khabibulin (has conflcit with federartion)
Ilya Bryzgalov (AHL-playoffs)
Dmitri Yeremeyev: prefers to play for Kazakhstan.
Ilya Kovalchuk (if Bilyaletdinov will be in coaching staff, Ilya won't go. Ilya blames his coach for early playoff exit)
Sergei Fedorov (probably concentrating on his 'music' career)
Sergei Zubov

- Olaf Kölzig will miss the WC's for Germany with an injured knee.

- Finland will have to do without Tuomo Ruutu, Teemu Selänne, Jere Lehtinen, Saku Koivu, Aki-Petteri Berg, Mikka Kiprusoff and Toni Lydman for various reasons.

I'll be sure to have more on Slovakia in the very near future. I know Pavol Demitra and Peter Bondra are out for sure. Jan Lasak will be the definite #1 goaltender while Rastislav Stana and Peter Budaj will fight for the backup role after they had outstanding seasons in their own right.