Hockey Canada announced that four Philadelphia Flyers have been invited to attend Canada's 2010 Olympic men's hockey team orientation camp, which is scheduled to run from Aug. 24-27 in Calgary, Alberta. They include center Mike Richards, center Jeff Carter, left wing Simon Gagne and defenseman Chris Pronger
 
“It’s going to be fun going down there and being on the ice with everyone," said Richards. "It’s the first step in becoming a member of Team Canada if you want to be in the Olympics next year.”
 
“It’s great. It’s definitely a huge honor with how many great players there are in Canada,” said Carter. “Anytime you get a chance to represent your country it’s a great honor and hopefully I can have a good trial and just go from there.”

“It is definitely an honor having the chance again to attend the mini-camp just before our regular season starts,” said Gagne. “I know they have invited 40-some guys so it isn’t the final team yet, but it is one step in the right direction and I am sure I would love to be a part of the team again and represent my country at the Olympics, especially since the event will be in Canada. I understand it is going to be a very tough decision to pick the roster and I will try to do my best.  We have a lot of talent in Canada."

Richards, 24, recorded 80 points (30G,50A) in 79 regular season games with the Flyers in 2008-09. He led the Flyers in assists (50), power-play points (33), shorthanded goals (7 – 1st in NHL) and all forwards in average time-on-ice (21:44), while ranking second in points (80). Internationally, Richards was captain of Team Canada at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championships, recording five points (1G,4A) in six games, as Canada won the gold medal. He was a member of Team Canada which captured the silver medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships and the gold medal at the 2002 under-18 Eight Nations Cup.
 
Carter, 24, posted 84 points (46G,38A) in 82 regular season games for the Flyers in 2008-09. He recorded new career highs and led the team in points (84), goals (46 – 2nd in NHL), power-play goals (13), game-winning goals (12 – 1st in NHL), shots (342) and plus/minus rating (+23). Internationally, Carter was named to the IIHF World Junior Championship All-Tournament Team in 2004 and 2005. He posted 10 points (7G,3A) in six games as Canada won the 2005 Tournament and seven points (5G,2A) in six games to help Canada win the silver medal at the 2004 Tournament. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning Team Canada at the 2003 Under-18 World Championships.
 
Gagne, 29, recorded 74 points (34G,40A) in 79 regular season games with the Flyers in 2008-09. He finished second on the team in goals (34) and tied for second in assists (40) and shorthanded goals (4). He also finished third on the squad in points (74). Gagne has been a member of Team Canada in the past two Winter Olympic Games (2002, 2006) and helped Canada capture the gold medal in 2002, recording a goal and three assists in six games. Gagne also played for Canada’s silver medal team at 1999 World Junior Championships and led the tournament with seven goals, four of which came in one game to tie a Team Canada record set by Mario Lemieux in 1983.
 
Pronger, 34, recorded 48 points (11G,37A) and 88 penalty minutes in 82 regular season games for the Anaheim Ducks in 2008-09. He led the Ducks in average time on ice (26:56 – 2nd in NHL) and finished second on Anaheim’s defense in goals (11), assists (37) and points (48). He also posted 10 points (2G,8A) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has appeared in three Winter Olympic Games as a member of Team Canada (1998, 2002, 2006), and was an alternate captain to help lead Canada to the gold medal in 2002.

* * *

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey; Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver; Steve Mason, Columbus; Cam Ward, Carolina.

Defensemen: Francois Beauchemin, UFA; Jay Bouwmeester, Calgary; Dan Boyle, San Jose; Brent Burns, Minnesota; Drew Doughty, Los Angeles; Mike Green, Washington; Dan Hamhuis, Nashville; Duncan Keith, Chicago; Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim; Dion Phaneuf, Calgary; Chris Pronger, Philadelphia; Robyn Regehr, Calgary; Stephane Robidas, Dallas; Brent Seabrook, Chicago; Marc Staal, New York Rangers; Shea Weber, Nashville.

Forwards: Jeff Carter, Philadelphia; Dan Cleary, Detroit; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh; Shane Doan, Phoenix; Simon Gagne, Philadelphia; Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim; Dany Heatley, Ottawa; Jarome Iginla, Calgary; Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay; Milan Lucic, Boston; Patrick Marleau, San Jose; Andy McDonald, St. Louis; Brenden Morrow, Dallas; Rick Nash, Columbus; Corey Perry, Anaheim; Mike Richards, Philadelphia; Derek Roy, Buffalo; Joe Sakic, Colorado; Patrick Sharp, Chicago; Ryan Smyth, Colorado; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay; Eric Staal, Carolina; Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh; Joe Thornton, San Jose; Jonathan Toews, Chicago.