New Jersey Devils forward and BCHL grad Travis Zajac has been named to Canada's roster for the 2009 IIHF World Hockey Championships, Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong announced Thursday.
Zajac joins Canada on the heels of a disappointing Game Seven loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the National Hockey League playoffs.
But Zajac enjoyed a fine season despite the early postseason exit. The Salmon Arm SilverBacks alum recorded career highs of 20 goals and 62 points in 82 games, besting by 20 points his rookie season in 2006/07.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native joins a star-packed Canadian roster that includes forwards Dany Heatley, Martin St. Louis and fellow BCHL grad Shawn Horcoff.
The team, having advanced from the preliminary stage of the championships with a 3-0 record, will face the Czech Republic today in their first elimination round game.
Zajac was a first round NHL draft pick in 2004 following two outstanding seasons in Salmon Arm. He made his pro debut with the Devils after spending two seasons at the University of North Dakota.
