COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey has been finalized tonight with the addition of seven players to the previous 16 already named, it was announced by USA Hockey.
“When it came right down to it, it was very difficult to settle on a final roster,” said Dean Lombardi, general manager of Team USA and also the GM of the NHL’s L.A. Kings. “That’s a testament to how far we’ve come in hockey in our country. It’s a tribute to the players and all the volunteers, particularly coaches, in communities across the country that help make hockey as strong as it is today.”
Highlighting the seven players named tonight are five Olympians in forwards David Backes (Blaine, Minn./St. Louis Blues/2010, 2014), Ryan Callahan (Rochester, N.Y./Tampa Bay Lightning/2010, 2014) and James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./Toronto Maple Leafs/2014); and defensemen Erik Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn./Colorado Avalanche/2010) and Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Columbus Blue Jackets/2010).
The seven players, including defenseman Matt Niskanen (Virginia, Minn./Washington Capitals) and forward Brandon Dubinsky (Anchorage, Alaska/Columbus Blue Jackets), all have prior Team USA experience. Cumulatively, the players have captured 11 medals in international competition, with three players earning gold and four players earning an Olympic silver medal.
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will take place from Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto and include the U.S., Canada, Czech Republic, Europe, Finland, North America, Russia and Sweden.
For a complete Team USA roster, click here.
NOTES: Cumulatively, members of the 23-player Team USA roster have captured 29 medals in international competition, with nine players earning gold … The players represent 16 different National Hockey League Teams (Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets) … All players but Dustin Byfuglien have represented the U.S. in international competition previously … Seven players (Justin Abdelkader, David Backes, John Carlson, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Joe Pavelski, Blake Wheeler) are alumni of the United States Hockey League … Six players were full-time members of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Suter, James van Riemsdyk) … The U.S. management group for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey includes Dean Lombardi (Ludlow, Mass./L.A. Kings) as general manager; Paul Holmgren (St. Paul, Minn./Philadelphia Flyers) as assistant general manager; Brian Burke (Edina, Minn./Calgary Flames) as senior advisor; and Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo./USA Hockey) as director of hockey operations … John Tortorella (Boston, Mass./Columbus Blue Jackets) is the head coach of the 2016 U.S. World Cup of Hockey Team, with Mike Sullivan (Duxbury, Mass./Pittsburgh Penguins), John Hynes (Warwick, R.I./New Jersey Devils), Phil Housley (South St. Paul, Minn./Nashville Predators), Jack Capuano (Cranston, R.I./New York Islanders) and Scott Gordon (Easton, Mass./Lehigh Valley Phantoms) serving as assistant coaches … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. teams that compete internationally … The World Cup of Hockey is a joint effort of the National Hockey League Players’ Association and the National Hockey League, in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and its member federations … The World Cup of Hockey has been conducted on two previous occasions (1996, 2004), with the U.S. winning the first edition in 1996.
