2016 World Cup of Hockey features Canada, U.S. in Group A
McDavid, Eichel likely to play together on Team North America
The World Cup of Hockey, featuring more than 150 NHL players and eight teams, will begin Sept. 17, 2016 in Toronto.
Canada and longtime rivals, the United States, will play in Group A along with Team Europe and the Czech Republic, it was announced Wednesday.
Group B will consist of Russia, Sweden, Finland and Team North America, which will be comprised of players aged 23 and under from Canada and the U.S.
Canada's World Cup of Hockey schedule
Preliminary round
- Sept. 17 vs. Czech Republic, 8 p.m. ET
- Sept. 20 vs. United States, 8 p.m.
- Sept. 21 vs. Team Europe, 8 p.m.
Semifinals
- Sept. 24, 1st semifinal
- Sept. 25, 2nd semifinal
Final (best-of-three)
- Sept. 27, 8 p.m.
- Sept. 29, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 1, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
*All games at Air Canada Centre in Toronto
General managers Peter Chiarelli of the Edmonton Oilers and Stan Bowman of the Chicago Blackhawks will lead Team North America.
Chiarelli, an Ottawa native, was part of Canada's management team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Bowman is from Montreal but has dual citizenship.
Star rookies Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel are likely to be on that roster.
With capy <a href="https://twitter.com/RMcDonagh27">@RMcDonagh27</a> in Toronto for <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL">@NHL</a> player media tour. In a year it won't be as friendly..:) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash">#WorldCup</a> <a href="http://t.co/uIc6HdWe0Z">pic.twitter.com/uIc6HdWe0Z</a>
—@HLundqvist30With files from The Canadian Press