COLUMBUS, OHIO – Hockey Canada has announced that Blue Jackets defenseman Marc Methot is among the first group of 17 players selected to represent Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Championships, which will take place May 4-20 in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

Marc Methot

Methot, 26, is a native of Ottawa, Ontario and will be playing in the World Championships for the second time. He was scoreless with a +2 plus/minus rating in seven games for Canada at the 2011 World Championships. He tallied 1-6-7 and 24 penalty minutes in 46 games with Columbus this season. He missed the season’s final 28 games after suffering a broken jaw against Dallas on February 9. The club’s seventh pick, 168th overall, in the 2003 Entry Draft has registered 7-44-51 and 208 penalty minutes in 275 career NHL games.

Team Canada will be holding a pre-competition camp in Zurich from April 27-May 1, playing in two pre-competition games – April 29 vs. Switzerland in Fribourg, Switzerland and May 1 vs. Switzerland in Kloten, Switzerland. The 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship runs from May 4-20, in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden, with Canada based out of Helsinki for the entire event. Canada opens up against Slovakia on May 4.

The 2013 NHL All-Star Game is coming to Columbus Jan. 26-27, 2013. Fans can guarantee access to seats for both the game and Skills Challenge now by reserving a full or partial season ticket plan for the Blue Jackets’ 2012-13 season. Ticket plans start at less than $15 per game. In addition to guaranteed access to All-Star tickets, full and partial-season ticket holders receive a number of great benefits including significant savings versus single-game prices; the best available seat locations; exclusive access to events with players and coaches; and priority access to tickets for most other events at Nationwide Arena and the Jerome Schottenstein Center. For more information, call (800) NHL-COLS or visit BlueJackets.com.