World Cup Overview

World Cup Overview

Lucas Tanner

09/16/15

   The World Cup of Hockey is set to return in September 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. This will be the first time the NHL has put on this event since 2004 and the third since the historical sucessor tournament, the Canada Cup.

   The format as announced jointly by commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive Donald Fehr, will consist of six national teams and two all star teams. The top six teams according to the IIHF rankings will be represented as well as a European all star team for the remaining nations and a under-23 North American all star team. The Teams will be split into two pools.

Pool A

Canada

USA

Czech Republic

Europe

Pool B

Sweden

Russia

Finland

North America

The schedule is an interesting one that guarantees the biggest international rivalries to be put to the test on the biggest stage. Canada plays the US, as well as Finland playing Scandinavian rivals in Sweden. The tournament will finish off with a best-of-three series for the final ensuring that the more deserving team will prevail.

Preliminary Round (round robin)

Saturday, Sept. 17

Team Europe vs. Team USA, 3:30 p.m.

Team Canada vs. Team Czech Republic, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18

Team Russia vs. Team Sweden, 3 p.m.

Team Finland vs. Team North America, 8 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 19

Team Czech Republic vs. Team Europe, 3 p.m.

Team North America vs. Team Russia, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 20

Team Finland vs. Team Sweden, 3 p.m.

Team Canada vs. Team USA, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 21

Team North America vs. Team Sweden, 3 p.m.

Team Canada vs. Team Europe, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 22

Team Finland vs. Team Russia, 3 p.m.

Team Czech Republic vs. Team USA, 8 p.m.

Semifinals (single elimination; A1 vs. B2, B1 vs. A2)

Saturday, Sept. 24

Semifinal 1, TBD

Sunday, Sept. 25

Semifinal 2, TBD

Final (best-of-three)

Tuesday, Sept. 27

Final Game 1, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 29

Final Game 2, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 1

Final Game 3, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

   Overall, the World Cup is an interesting attempt at making a successful best on best international hockey tournament. In a small tournament which would not have otherwise featured the likes of Anze Kopitar (Slovenia) or Thomas Vanek (Austria). They have successfully created the set-up where any of the eight teams could go home with the trophy. The NHL's top talent will be on display and will also help them gain an enormous amount of revenue for the league. However one ccould also argue that the all star teams hinder the sense of nationalism in the smaller nations in a tournament that feels a little gimmicky compared to other sports world cups. This format could also go against the international development of the sport of ice hockey worldwide. Everyone would love to see a worldwide competition for ice hockey similar to that of Soccer in the distant future, but that is hard to imagine that when they are running such a closed in, 6 national team tournament in the present. If the dont give the smaller hockey nations a chance to compete and develop, they will never reach the competitive level of the top 6 countries.

   Whatever your view may be, the world cup will be worth a good look and it will undoubtedly be an exciting tournament. Best on best hockey can never be a bad thing, and its just one more chance for Canada to prove that they are the superior hockey country in the world.