The World Cup of Hockey, an international tournament set to start September 17th, announced its preliminary team rosters throughout the day yesterday & some of Nashville’s best got the call.
Pekka Rinne (Team Finland), Filip Forsberg (Team Sweden), Shea Weber (Team Canada), and Roman Josi (Team Europe) will be representing their respective countries in this year’s tournament. Below is a full rundown of each team and its participants:
TEAM USA
TEAM
POSITION
Ben Bishop
Lightning
G
Jonathan Quick
Kings
G
Cory Schneider
Devils
G
Dustin Byfuglien
Jets
D
John Carlson
Capitals
D
Ryan McDonagh
Rangers
D
Ryan Suter
Wild
D
Justin Abdelkader
Red Wings
F
Patrick Kane
Blackhawks
F
Ryan Kesler
Ducks
F
T.J. Oshie
Capitals
F
Max Pacioretty
Canadiens
F
Zach Parise
Wild
F
Joe Pavelski
Sharks
F
Derek Stepan
Rangers
F
Blake Wheeler
Jets
F
TEAM CANADA
TEAM
POSITION
Corey Crawford
Blackhawks
G
Braden Holtby
Capitals
G
Carey Price
Canadiens
G
Drew Doughty
Kings
D
Duncan Keith
Blackhawks
D
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Sharks
D
Shea Weber
Predators
D
Jamie Benn
Stars
F
Patrice Bergeron
Bruins
F
Jeff Carter
Kings
F
Sidney Crosby
Penguins
F
Ryan Getzlaf
Ducks
F
Tyler Seguin
Stars
F
Steven Stamkos
Lightning
F
John Tavares
Islanders
F
Johnathan Toews
Blackhawks
F
TEAM RUSSIA
TEAM
POSITION
Sergei Bobrovsky
Blue Jackets
G
Semyon Varlamov
Avalanche
G
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Lightning
G
Dmitry Kulikov
Panthers
D
Andrei Markov
Canadiens
D
Dmitry Orlov
Capitals
D
Artem Anisimov
Blackhawks
D
Pavel Datsyuk
Red Wings
F
Nikita Kucherov
Lightning
F
Nikolay Kulemin
Islanders
F
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Capitals
F
Evgeni Malkin
Penguins
F
Vladislav Namestnikov
Lightning
F
Alex Ovechkin
Capitals
F
Artemi Panarin
Blackhawks
F
Vladimir Tarasenko
Blues
F
TEAM FINLAND
TEAM
POSITION
Tuuka Rask
Bruins
G
Pekka Rinne
Predators
G
Olli Maatta
Penguins
D
Rasmus Ristolainen
Sabres
D
Sami Vatanen
Ducks
D
Esa Lindell
Stars
D
Mikko Koivu
Wild
F
Jori Lehtera
Blues
F
Aleksander Barkov
Panthers
F
Mikael Granlund
Wild
F
Jussi Jokinen
Panthers
F
Valtteri Filppula
Lightning
F
Leo Komarov
Maple Leafs
F
Joonas Donskoi
Sharks
F
Lauri Korpikoski
Oilers
F
Teuvo Teravainen
Blackhawks
F
TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC
TEAM
POSITION
Petr Mrazek
Red Wings
G
Michal Neuvirth
Flyers
G
Ondrej Pavelec
Jets
G
Radko Gudas
Flyers
D
Michal Kempny
Avangard Omsk (KHL)
D
Roman Polak
Sharks
D
Andrej Sustr
Lightning
D
Michael Frolik
Flames
F
Martin Hanzal
Coyotes
F
Tomas Hertl
Sharks
F
David Krejci
Bruins
F
Ondrej Palat
Lightning
F
David Pastrnak
Bruins
F
Tomas Plekanec
Canadiens
F
Vladimir Sobotka
Avangard Omsk (KHL)
F
Jakub Voracek
Flyers
F
TEAM SWEDEN
TEAM
POSITION
Henrik Lundqvist
Rangers
G
Jacob Markstrom
Canucks
G
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Coyotes
D
Viktor Hedman
Lightning
D
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Blackhawks
D
Erik Karlsson
Senators
D
Niklas Kronwall
Red Wings
D
Anton Stralman
Lightning
D
Nicklas Backstrom
Capitals
F
Loui Eriksson
Bruins
F
Filip Forsberg
Predators
F
Gabriel Landeskog
Avalanche
F
Daniel Sedin
Canucks
F
Henrik Sedin
Canucks
F
Alexanders Steen
Blues
F
Henrik Zetterberg
Red Wings
F
TEAM EUROPE
TEAM
POSITION
Frederik Andersen
Ducks (Denmark)
G
Jaroslav Halak
Rangers (Slovakia)
G
Zdeno Chara
Bruins (Slovakia)
D
Roman Josi
Predators (Switzerland)
D
Dennis Seidenberg
Bruins (Germany)
D
Andrej Sekera
Oilers (Slovakia)
D
Mark Streit
Flyers (Switzerland)
D
Mikkel Boedker
Avalanche (Denmark)
F
Leon Draisaitl
Oilers (Germany)
F
Jannik Hansen
Canucks (Denmark)
F
Marian Hossa
Blackhawks (Slovakia)
F
Anze Kopitar
Kings (Slovenia)
F
Frans Nielsen
Islanders (Denmark)
F
Tomas Tatar
Red Wings (Slovakia)
F
Thomas Vanek
Wild (Austria)
F
Mats Zuccarello
Rangers (Norway)
F
TEAM NORTH AMERICA
TEAM
POSITION
John Gibson
Ducks
G
Connor Hellebuyck
Manitoba Moose (AHL)
G
Matthew Murray
Penguins
G
Aaron Ekblad
Panthers
D
Seth Jones
Blue Jackets
D
Ryan Murray
Blue Jackets
D
Morgan Reilly
Maple Leafs
D
Sean Couturier
Flyers
F
Jack Eichel
Sabres
F
Johnny Gaudreau
Flames
F
Dylan Larkin
Red Wings
F
Nathan MacKinnon
Avalanche
F
Connor McDavid
Oilers
F
J.T. Miller
Rangers
F
Sean Monahan
Wild (Austria)
F
Mats Zuccarello
Rangers (Norway)
F
If you are confused by Team North America because there is already a Team Canada and Team USA, you aren’t alone. This new team consists of the top players from both the United States and Canada that are under the age of twenty-three.
The fun kicks off September 7th and runs through October 1st in Toronto. The final roster will be announced June 1st.
Now that the season has officially ended (whether we want to cope with it or not), some of the Predators aren’t finished hitting the rinks just yet. Six – thus far – of Nashville’s players will be taking off to the Czech Republic to represent their home countries in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Here’s who we have thus far:
TEAM SUOMI (FINLAND): PEKKA RINNE
Pekka was named to the World Championship All-Star team in 2014 and also won MVP that year as well.
TEAM SUISSE (SWITZERLAND): ROMAN JOSI & KEVIN FIALA
Kevin Fiala may be young, but he is no stranger to Team Switzerland. Fiala has competed for Suisse in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Roman Josi has a number of accolades from participation with Team Switzerland, including IIHF World Champion MVP, Silver Medalist, Media All-Star Team, and Best Defenseman in 2013.
TEAM USA: Seth Jones
Seth Jones, like Kevin Fiala, is no stranger to the IIHF Worlds for Team USA. Jones helped lead Team USA to gold medals in 2011 (WJC18), 2012 (WJC18), and 2013 (WJC). He played alongside teammate Craig Smith last year and helped bring Team USA to 6th place.
tre kronor (sweden): filip forsberg & mattias ekholm
Filip Forsberg has never seen less than second place while suited up for Tre Kronor, winning the silver medal in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Forsberg helped lead his World Juniors team to overall victory in 2012. In 2014, Forsberg was named World Junior Best Forward and MVP. Surprisingly, this will be Forsberg’s first bout away from World Juniors.
Mattias Ekholm has had as lucrative of a career with Tre Kronor has Forsberg has, but he did help Sweden collect the bronze medal last year.
Since the tournament officially begins Friday, I do not if any other Predators will be added to their country’s rosters, but who knows.
Smith says no World Championship plans for him as of right now
As I mentioned, the tournament kicks off Friday with Team Latvia vs. Team Canada (4:15PM) and Team Czech vs. Team Sweden (8:15PM) in the O2 Arena and Team USA vs. Team Finland (4:15PM) and Team Russia vs. Team Norway (8:15PM) in the CEZ Arena. Let me elaborate on those puck drop times, too. Those times would be relevant to those within the Czech timezone; the Czech Republic is seven hours ahead of the Central Timezone. Needless to say, the first games would start at 9:15AM our time, and the second games would start at 1:15PM. Here’s a TV listing of where you can view the games:
Date
Game
Network
Game time (CT)
Fri., May 1
Team USA vs. Finland
NBCSN (live)
9 a.m.
Sat., May 2
Team USA vs. Norway
NBCSN (delay at 10 p.m.)
1 p.m.
Mon., May 4
Team USA vs. Russia
NBCSN (live)
9 a.m.
Thur., May 7
Team USA vs. Belarus
NBCSN (live)
9 a.m.
Fri., May 8
Team USA vs. Denmark
NBCSN (live)
1 p.m.
Sun., May 10
Team USA vs. Slovenia
NBCSN (delay at 2 p.m.)
10 a.m.
Tue., May 12
Team USA vs. Slovakia
NBCSN (live)
10 a.m.
Thu., May 14
IIHF Quarterfinals
NBCSN (live)
8 a.m.
IIHF Quarterfinals
Live Extra app, TV TBD
9 a.m.
IIHF Quarterfinals
Live Extra app, TV TBD
10:30 a.m.
IIHF Quarterfinals
Live Extra app, TV TBD
12 p.m.
IIHF Quarterfinals
Live Extra app, TV TBD
1 p.m.
IIHF Quarterfinals
Live Extra app, TV TBD
10:30 p.m.
Sat., May 16
IIHF Semifinals
Live Extra app, TV TBD
8:30 a.m.
IIHF Semifinals
Live Extra app, TV TBD
12 p.m.
Sun., May 17
IIHF Bronze Medal Game
Live Extra app, TV TBD
11 a.m.
IIHF Gold Medal Game
NBCSN (live)
1:30 p.m.
I’ll update this list if anything changes or if any new players are added to their country’s rosters.
Though they Team Sweden out in the World Juniors Championships to Finland 3-2, that didn’t stop Filip Forsberg from nabbing the all-important title of tournament MVP and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Directorate’s Top Forward. With 12 points in the WJC alone (four goals and eight assists), the Swedish captain was just one point shy of tying Henrik Sedin’s record (13 points in 2000) in one series.
Filip Forsberg was allowed to participate in the tournament with special permission from the Predators, which in turn ultimately showed his potential, given the right circumstances and atmosphere.
Surely SK74 and Patric Hornqvist aren’t going at it? Picture from the 2010 Olympics.
With Slovakia ending the Czech Republic’s run at the championship 3-1 in the semifinals, all of Nashville’s players have been eliminated from the IIHF World Championship. The Predators had a good amount of players who jumped on board after the post season, despite going into Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here’s a final rundown of who played for who:
Team Belarus – Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn
Team Switzerland – Roman Josi
Team Sweden – Patric Hornqvist
Team USA – Craig Smith
Team Czech – Martin Erat
Andrei, Sergei, Roman, Craig, Martin, and Patric
Team Belarus and the Kostitsyn brothers were first to be knocked out of the tournament, falling to Team Canada 5-1 on Tuesday, May 15th. Sergei Kostitsyn did manage to collect a goal during his short run in the tournament. Also on Tuesday, Craig Smith and Team USA eliminated Roman Josi and Team Switzerland 5-2. On Thursday, Team Finland overthrew Team USA to advance 3-2, knocking out rookie Craig Smith. Martin Erat, who notched a goal against Team Sweden, eliminated Patric Hornqvist and Tre Kronor 4-3.
As of yesterday’s game between Team Slovakia and Team Czech, Marty “Party” Erat was the only Predator left in the running for the gold. Unfortunately, Erat was sidelined early in the semifinal game, leaving the ice during the 1st Period after a shoulder check by Slovakia’s Libor Hudáček. Here’s the video from the game:
It was announced by Czech GM Slava Lener that Martin Erat does have a concussion, which could potentially affect the Predators in the upcoming season. Although the 2012-13 season is a little over five months away, concussions are a bit of mystery when it comes to treating them properly. That, and Martin Erat’s history of concussions is virtually unknown, so the way his body handles the healing process of a concussion will be on a day-to-day basis.
Martin Erat, though his a bit more serious, was not the only player injured during the World Championship. Sergei Kostitsyn dislocated his shoulder during the match between Team Canada after being hit by Kris Russell, a currently St. Louis Blues defenseman. As stated, although not as serious as Erat’s concussion, Kostitsyn will have to sit back a while to let it properly heal.
UPDATE ON ERAT CONDITION: Martin Erat’s agent, Mike Deutsch has just announced that, despite what Czech GM Slava Lener stated earlier, Erat did not suffer a concussion and is simply suffering from a ‘stiff neck’. Good news for both Martin Erat and the Nashville Predators, but we will keep you updated in case the story changes once again.
Hockey has officially ended for Smashville, but hockey altogether is still chugging along, wether our favorite players are on the ice or not. Now that all is done, it’s now time for the part of the off-season everyone dreads: Who stays and who goes…