Toronto, ON – Canadian Ball Hockey Association High Performance Program is pleased to announce Canada’s Men’s National Ball Hockey Team has already starting to take shape for 2011 and there will be some familiar faces heading into Bratislava, Slovakia for the ISBHF Men’s World Street & Ball Hockey Championships in 2011.

Tony Iannitto will be returning as General Manager as Canada fights to get back to the top podium. Tony is no stranger to the Canada Men’s National Team program. He has been there since its inception in 1996 and has 5 World Titles under his belt. In addition to the GM position Tony will take on a dual role as Head Coach. “After all of these years I’m still very honoured to be a part of the Men’s National Team program and we will work hard and do everything possible to make this a successful journey,” stated Iannitto.

Also returning as Assistant General Manager is Mike Schweighardt. This will be Mike’s second tour of duty with the Men’s National Team where his strong organizational skills and knowledge of the game brings strength to the program. When asked his thoughts about being selected to the management team and the challenges of the 2011 campaign Schweighardt replied, “It is always an honour to be asked to represent your country and I certainly am honoured to be part of the Team Canada program. To work alongside and learn from great people such as Tony Iannitto is a pleasure. As we have learned from the disappointment in 2009, the world is catching up to Canada’s skill level in the sport and the 2011 event will be Canada’s time to show the world what we’ve learned in 2009. I can guarantee that many eyes will be watching to see how we will respond.”

Retired Men’s Team Canada Head Coach George Gortsos who has now taken the helm of Canada’s National Programs as High Performance Director commented “Our Men’s program and how it operates with class, skill and discipline has always been the barometer for all world programs. I think that Tony is as good a Coach as the CBHA has ever produced, and together with a young administrative star like Mike Schweighardt the players who wear that jersey in 2011 will have a top notch staff to lead them to victory.”

“We’re very excited that these staff members are returning with the program to continue moving forward on the great accomplishments the team has made these past many years,” Domenic Di Gironimo, President of the Canadian Ball Hockey Association stated. “Tony has helped build a solid foundation for the players, other members of the team staff and also for this organization. I know he, along with Mike, will continue to grow all aspects of this program in 2011.”

The Men’s National Team will be scouting various events held across Canada and internationally in 2010, which will culminate with a final selection camp in early 2011. Details of these events will be announced in the near future.

For more details on the Team Canada Men’s National Team Program, check out www.cbha.com.