| abstract | - Canada's National Men's Team was founded in 1963 by Father David Bauer, who shared a deep commitment to developing the Canadian character through international hockey. National Team players in the United States, Canada and throughout the world are united by their respect for the maple leaf. Until the early 1960s, Canada's international representation was by Senior Amateur Club teams. The last senior team to win a World Championship was the (B.C.) Trail Smoke Eaters in 1961. Shortly thereafter, Bauer proposed to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association a plan to develop a Canadian national hockey team. The proposal was accepted and the "Nats" were born, playing out of the University of British Columbia. The best finish by Bauer's team was a bronze at the Grenoble Winter Olympic Games in 1968. The team was a full-time program from 1963-68 and 1983-2000, giving Canada a presence at major international events and also served as a development program for players moving on to sign NHL, minor league and international contracts, as well as giving players the opportunity to travel the world and represent their country. A number of NHL teams gained from this program, as graduates such as Eric Lindros, Sean Burke, Adrian Aucoin, Chris Therien, Joé Juneau, James Patrick and Fred Brathwaite went on to illustrious NHL careers.
- The Canadian national men's ice hockey team (popularly known as Team Canada) is the ice hockey team representing Canada internationally. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior amateur club teams. Canada's national men's team was founded in 1963 by Father David Bauer as a part of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, playing out of the University of British Columbia. The nickname "Team Canada" was first used for the 1972 Summit Series and has been frequently used to refer to the Canadian national team ever since. Canada has been one of the leading national ice hockey teams in international play, winners of the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, four of five Canada Cups dating back to 1976, nine Olympic gold medals (the most in the world), including three of the last four: Salt Lake City 2002, Vancouver 2010, and Sochi 2014. They are 25-time IIHF World Champions and winner of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Canada is a member of the so-called "Big Six", the unofficial group of the six strongest men's ice hockey nations, along with the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
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