The 2016 World Cup of Hockey is different from the previous two incarnations of the event — back in 1996 and 2004 — in that there are two weird new teams.
Canada, the USA, Finland, Sweden, Russia and the Czech Republic will send teams, but Slovakia and Germany are out, replaced by an under-23 team from North America and a Team Europe, comprised of those without a national team in the tournament.
Here’s what that European team will look like:
G Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks (Denmark)
G Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders (Slovakia)
D Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins (Slovakia)
D Roman Josi, Nashville Predators (Switzerland)
D Dennis Seidenberg, Boston Bruins (Germany)
D Andrej Sekera, Edmonton Oilers (Slovakia)
D Mark Streit, Philadelphia Flyers (Switzerland)
F Mikkel Boedker, Colorado Avalanche (Denmark)
F Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (Germany)
F Jannik Hansen, Vancouver Canucks (Denmark)
F Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks (Slovakia)
F Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings (Slovenia)
F Frans Nielsen, New York Islanders (Denmark)
F Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings (Slovakia)
F Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild (Austria)
F Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers (Norway)
Mark Streit, of Switzerland, is on the team. Under the old format he would not have had a chance to participate at all, so this is obviously great news for him. He captained the Swiss team at the 2010 Winter Olympics and was an assistant captain at the 2014 Olympics.
Left off this first round of the roster is Austria’s Michael Raffl, although he could still have a chance to make the team in June when rosters are finalized. 16 players were added today, and the final roster will include 23 players.
Earlier today, Jakub Voracek, Radko Gudas and Michal Neuvirth were named to the Czech team. More announcements are coming later on Wednesday night. Here’s the Team Europe jersey:
Here’s a look at what Team Europe will be wearing at the World Cup of Hockey. #WCH2016 https://t.co/t9ifQVeUEfhttps://t.co/5bsuUDGkO9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 2, 2016
