Ed Jovanovski - International Play

International Play

Jovanovski competed for Canada's under-20 team at the 1995 World Junior Championships, held in Alberta. Scoring two goals in seven games, he helped Canada go undefeated to win gold. Following his NHL rookie season, he was named as a reserve to the Canadian men's team for the 1996 World Cup. The youngest player on the roster, he played in one exhibition game (Russia vs Canada - 4:4), but did not appear in any main tournament games as Canada lost in the final to the United States.

Two years later, Jovanovski competed at the 1998 World Championships in Switzerland. He was the second youngest player on the Canadian squad. He scored two goals and an assist over six games as Canada failed to qualify past the crossover round. He made his second World Championships appearance at the 2000 tournament in Russia. He scored a goal and an assist over nine games. Canada lost the semifinal 2–1 to the Czech Republic, before losing the bronze medal game 2–1 to Finland.

In December 2001, he was chosen to Canada's Olympic team for the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Playing the United States in the gold medal game, Jovanovski earned an assist on the game-winning goal, backhanding a saucer pass from the point to Joe Sakic on a two-man advantage. Canada went on to win the gold medal by a 5–2 score. Jovanovski had three points, all assists, in total.

Prior to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Jovanovski played for Team Canada in the 2004 World Cup. He suffered a cracked rib and a second degree sprain on his medial collateral ligament during the first game against the United States, sidelining him for the rest of the tournament. He was replaced by San Jose Sharks defenceman Scott Hannan in the lineup. Canada went on to win the championship over Finland in the final.

The following year, he competed at the 2005 World Championships in Austria. In the semifinal, Jovanovski scored the game-winning goal against Russia in a 4–3 win. Advancing to the gold medal game, Canada lost 3–0 to the Czech Republic, earning silver. He finished the tournament with a goal and two assists over nine games. Later that year, he was named to his second Canadian Olympic team for the 2006 Games in Turin, but was not able to play due to a lower abdominal injury.

Making his fourth World Championships appearance in 2008, Jovanovski earned a second straight silver medal. He recorded one assist over nine games as Canada lost in the gold medal game by a 5–4 score in overtime to Russia.