Team Canada’s Sidney Crosby practices in Ottawa Wednesday in preparation for the World Cup of Hockey. An alternate captain for the Wild, he registered 51 points (8 goals, 43 assists) last season.
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While teenagers like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews will get most of the attention during the eight-team tournament, there are a handful of players on the roster who are not all that young, at least in terms of National Hockey League experience.
Who: Teams from USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Russia, North America (age 23-under USA/Canada players) and Europe (players representing various European countries).
The good news for hockey fans is you will see McDavid in this tournament, and regardless of which jersey he’s wearing, I’m sure he and his young teammates will wow fans.
“I would think going in it’s going to be Matt first”, North American GM Peter Chiarelli said.
Those who have witnessed Price’s work this week at Team Canada training camp as he returns from a knee injury he suffered with the Montreal Canadiens on November 25 aren’t the least bit concerned he’ll be rusty.
Maybe I’m biased because I grew up watching the Canada Cup. The chemistry of Sweden, USA, Canada, and Russian Federation are strong. Every game finished 6-5, with Mario Lemieux scoring the victor in Game 3.
Numerous players have not played together internationally before, and that itself can cause problems.
Only die-hard hockey fans are going to tune-in to see the World Cup, but the Olympics have become such a cultural norm that even non-sports fans watch the games just to root on their home country. A veteran of 11 prior worldwide competitions, he also served as an alternate captain at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. One of the greatest things about this tournament is that most of us get to play for your country, and that’s a thrill of a lifetime in itself. I’ll enjoy it because it involves the best hockey players on the planet.
The World Cup of Hockey is just around the corner, and Team USA Head Coach John Tortorella isn’t about to let any of his players use the game to make a political statement.
Nugent-Hopkins is aware that the older youngsters will be looked to for leadership.
Bishop was forced to spend the offseason rehabbing the ankle injury that robbed him of completing the brilliant year he put together in his third full season with the Bolts.
The 12 Lightning players attending the World Cup should be in midseason form when they join Tampa Bay for training camp following the competition.
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This evening, Team Europe will play Team North America at 8pm. McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins need to be rested and healthy. “It’s up to the coaches, but you will make it harder or easier, depending upon how you play”. All tournament games will be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and will be broadcasted on ESPN networks. With another lengthy playoff run anticipated this season, the World Cup could be seen as a burden, the physically-taxing competition exhausting players before the grind of the National Hockey League regular season.
