QUEBEC CITY/HALIFAX – The qualification round and relegation series are beginning soon and teams are allowed to add two additional players for the second stage.

The Czech Republic has added New York Rangers defenceman Michal Rozsival and Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec today. Their roster is now at 21 skaters and 2 goalkeepers. Before, forwards Jaroslav Hlinka (Colorado Avalanche) and Ladislav Kohn (CSKA Moscow) were also added.

Sweden’s roster for the qualification round is filled with the additions of New York Rangers goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist, San Jose Sharks defenceman Douglas Murray, forwards Per Ledin (HV 71 Jonkoping) and Daniel Widing (Brynas Gavle).

France has added defenceman Mathieu Mille (Morzine) and forward Damien Raux (Briancon). Their relegation round opponent Italy has added forwards Marco Imsam (HCJ Milan) and John Parco (Asiago). All four players have been practicing in Quebec City with their respective team before.

Denmark has added one player with Thor Dresler (Odense Bulldogs), who was also part of the training camp roster.

Belarus has also added players from the training camp roster: goalkeeper Dmitri Milchakov (HK Vitebsk), defenceman Andrei Bashko (Metallurg Zhlobin) and forward Evgeni Kurilin (Dynamo Minsk).

In Halifax, the roster additions were a little less dramatic as most of the players added were already known or to fill in for injured players. Only Canada and Finland did not add players on the first day of the qualification round. Finland does not play until tomorrow. Canada has a game against Norway today. Below is a list team-by-team of the additions:

United States: USA had the big-name additions with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jordan Leopold and New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky. The duo will step into a line-up riddled with injuries, which lost captain Jeff Halpern and goaltender Tim Thomas.

Germany: The Germans also looked to fill in a few gaps in their roster as Marcel Goc of the San Jose Sharks and Andre Reiss from the DEL's Hannover Scorpions were added to the roster.

Norway: The Norwegians will enter the qualification round with the addition of Matthias Holmstedt. The defenseman plays in Norway with IK Comet Halden.

Latvia: The qualification round will be played with the addition of forward Aleksandrs Macijevskis, who plays in Denmark with AaB Aalborg.

Slovenia: In a bid to avoid relegation, the Slovenians added a pair of forwards as Marjan Manfreda and Anze Terlikar are the new skaters.

Slovakia: Finally, the Slovaks also added two players as forward Juraj Mikus from HK 36 Skalica joined the team along with defenseman Rene Vydareny who plays in the Czech Republic with Ceske Budejovice.