52 CHL graduates named to initial WCH rosters
Wednesday March 2, 2016
52 CHL alumni that graduated from 31 different clubs across the Canadian Hockey League were named to preliminary rosters for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey on Wednesday.
CHL grads represented approximately 41% of the 128 players unveiled, with at least one graduate representing each of the eight teams competing in the international showcase.
The World Cup of Hockey is a joint effort of the NHLPA and the NHL, in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). It is expected that more than 150 of the best players in the NHL will participate in this tournament.
The tournament features six nations including Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States, along with a team of European players from countries outside the competing four, and a team of under 23-year-old players from North America.
Team Canada leads the way with CHL graduates representing 15 of the 16 players named to the preliminary roster, a list that includes two-time CHL Player of the Year Sidney Crosby along with two other former first overall NHL draft selections in Steven Stamkos and John Tavares.
Team North America trails close behind with 12 CHL graduates, all of whom graduated from the league in the last four seasons. The 23-and-under squad features three former first overall NHL draft picks in 2015 CHL Player of the Year Connor McDavid, 2014 Calder Trophy recipient Aaron Ekblad and former MasterCard Memorial Cup champion Nathan MacKinnon.
The format will feature all eight teams separated into two groups for a preliminary round played from Sept. 17-22. Group A will consist of Canada, Czech Republic, Europe, and USA, with Group B including Finland, North America, Russia, and Sweden. The top two finishers in each group will advance to the semifinals Sept. 24-25, followed by a best-of-three final with games played on Sept. 27, Sept. 29 and, if necessary, Oct 1. All games will be played at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Full rosters must be named prior to the June 1 deadline.
CHL Alumni Named to 2016 World Cup of Hockey Preliminary Rosters:
Canada:
Corey Crawford (Moncton Wildcats/Chicago Blackhawks)
Braden Holtby (Saskatoon Blades/Washington Capitals)
Carey Price (Tri-City Americans/Montreal Canadiens)
Jamie Benn (Kelowna Rockets/Dallas Stars)
Patrice Bergeron (Acadie-Bathurst Titan/Boston Bruins)
Jeff Carter (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds/Los Angeles Kings)
Sidney Crosby (Rimouski Oceanic/Pittsburgh Penguins)
Drew Doughty (Guelph Storm/Los Angeles Kings)
Ryan Getzlaf (Calgary Hitmen/Anaheim Ducks)
Duncan Keith (Kelowna Rockets/Chicago Blackhawks)
Tyler Seguin (Plymouth Whalers/Dallas Stars)
Steven Stamkos (Sarnia Sting/Tampa Bay Lightning)
John Tavares (London Knights/New York Islanders)
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (Quebec Remparts/San Jose Sharks)
Shea Weber (Kelowna Rockets/Nashville Predators)
Czech Republic:
Petr Mrazek (Ottawa 67’s/Detroit Red Wings)
Michal Neuvirth (Oshawa Generals/Philadelphia Flyers)
Ondrej Pavelec (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles/Winnipeg Jets)
Michael Frolik (Rimouski Oceanic/Calgary Flames)
Radko Gudas (Everett Silvertips/Philadelphia Flyers)
Martin Hanzal (Red Deer Rebels/Arizona Coyotes)
David Krejci (Gatineau Olympiques/Boston Bruins)
Ondrej Palat (Drummondville Voltigeurs/Tampa Bay Lightning)
Roman Polak (Kootenay Ice/San Jose Sharks)
Jakub Voracek (Halifax Mooseheads/Philadelphia Flyers)
Europe:
Mikkel Boedker (Kitchener Rangers/Colorado Avalanche)
Zdeno Chara (Prince George Cougars/Boston Bruins)
Leon Draisaitl (Kelowna Rockets/Edmonton Oilers)
Jaroslav Halak (Lewiston MAINEiacs/New York Islanders)
Jannik Hansen (Portland Winterhawks/Vancouver Canucks)
Marian Hossa (Portland Winterhawks/Chicago Blackhawks)
Andrej Sekera (Owen Sound Attack/Edmonton Oilers)
Finland:
Olli Maatta (London Knights/Pittsburgh Penguins)
North America (23 & Under):
John Gibson (Kitchener Rangers/Anaheim Ducks)
Matt Murray (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds/Pittsburgh Penguins)
Sean Couturier (Drummondville Voltigeurs/Philadelphia Flyers)
Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts/Florida Panthers)
Seth Jones (Portland Winterhawks/Columbus Blue Jackets)
Nathan MacKinnon (Halifax Mooseheads/Colorado Avalanche)
Connor McDavid (Erie Otters/Edmonton Oilers)
J.T. Miller (Plymouth Whalers/New York Rangers)
Sean Monahan (Ottawa 67’s/Calgary Flames)
Ryan Murray (Everett Silvertips/Columbus Blue Jackets)
Morgan Rielly (Moose Jaw Warriors/Toronto Maple Leafs)
Brandon Saad (Saginaw Spirit/Columbus Blue Jackets)
Russia:
Nikita Kucherov (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies/Tampa Bay Lightning)
Dmitry Kulikov (Drummondville Voltigeurs/Florida Panthers)
Vladislav Namestnikov (London Knights/Tampa Bay Lightning)
Sweden:
Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener Rangers/Colorado Avalanche)
United States:
Dustin Byfuglien (Prince George Cougars/Winnipeg Jets)
John Carlson (London Knights/Washington Capitals)
Patrick Kane (London Knights/Chicago Blackhawks)
For more information on the 2016 World Cup of Hockey visit www.wch2016.com.