Ducks forward Teemu Selanne announced he will play for home country Finland in the upcoming IIHF World Hockey Championship, to be held May 2-18 in Quebec City and Halifax, Canada. Selanne skated with the team Wednesday in Halifax, just a day after agreeing to a request from general manager Jari Kurri to join the squad.
It's the first time in five years Selanne has competed in the event, though the 37-year-old Helsinki native has represented his country 11 times previously. He has played in four Olympics (winning a silver medal in 2006), two World Cups, a Canada Cup and four previous World Championships.
"It's funny," Selanne said. "I have won Olympic silver, World Cup silver and world championship silver but not gold so obviously there is (room for) some improvement."
Selanne played 32 games for the Ducks this past season after considering retirement for several months and joining the team in early February. He still has not indicated whether he wants to come back next season in the days following Anaheim's first-round playoff elimination at the hands of the Dallas Stars.
"I only played 32 games this season and I felt like I could continue and play way more games in the playoffs," Selanne said. "That break I had was so good. I am really happy to come back to the Worlds."
In addition to Selanne, the Finnish team has eight NHL players, three AHL players and others from leagues around Europe. Finland took the silver medal in the 2007 World Championship, falling to Canada in the final, 4-2.
The Ducks will also be represented by forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Chris Kunitz on Team Canada and goalie Jonas Hiller on the Swiss team.
SOURCE: AnaheimDucks.com
Reports are out that Selanne will come back for another go around as long as the Ducks want to remain a competitive team. A winning team. He wants no part of the rebuilding hoopla. He, like uh-- every single player in the NHL, wants the playoffs. He wants, of course, a shot at Lord Stanley. So he made it known. The OC Register article can be found HERE. 
Now for the little piece of Niedermayer news. There's been rumors floating around that he might go to Vancouver (Bogus rumor, thanks Eklund) or perhaps New Jersey (more realistic, but still not likely). Well his agent came out and said it's likely Anaheim or nothing for Niedermayer. His family has their home here, they're settled in, yadda yadda. So calm those ruffled feathers. If he plays he plays here in Anaheim. The report can be found HERE. 
And for those of us who get to attend the 2010 NHL Draft up in L.A. this year... there'll be a special visitor there on display. That's right, Lord Stanley will be making a displayed appearance at the Draft. Hilarious for two reasons.. A. The Draft is in LA, so it'll be on Display for L.A. fans to remind them of what they don't have, and B. The Draft is in LA, it's close enough for Ducks fans to migrate to -- and Kings fans will hate that, because well, we have actually won that Cup. And they haven't. WIN. LINK
