World Cup Pre-Tournament Schedule Announced
On Tuesday, ESPN announced times, dates and broadcast networks for the 12-game World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament.
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will be a two-week tournament beginning Saturday, Sept. 17, with the best-of-three Final set to begin Tuesday, Sept. 27.
The Blackhawks begin their 2016 preseason slate on Wednesday, Sept. 28 as the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins visit the United Center. If Canada advances to the Final, that would mean several players – including Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby – would still be playing in the World Cup of Hockey at the time of the preseason opener.
Here’s the pre-tournament schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Location | Network |
| Thu, Sep 8 | 12 p.m. | Sweden vs. Finland | Helsinki, Finland | ESPN3 |
| 12:30 p.m. | Czech Republic vs. Russia | St. Petersburg, Russia | ESPN3 | |
| 8 p.m. | North America vs. Europe | Quebec City, Quebec | ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Sep 9 | 7 p.m. | Canada vs. USA | Columbus, OH | ESPNU |
| Sat, Sep 10 | 10:30 a.m. | Russia vs. Czech Republic | Prague, Czech Republic | ESPN3 |
| 12 p.m. | Finland vs. Sweden | Gothenburg, Sweden | ESPN3 | |
| 7 p.m. | USA vs. Canada | Ottawa, Canada | ESPN3 | |
| Sun, Sep 11 | 6 p.m. | Europe vs. North America | Montreal, Canada | ESPN3 |
| Tue, Sep 13 | 7 p.m. | Finland vs. USA | Washington, DC | ESPN |
| Wed, Sep 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Czech Republic vs. North America | Pittsburgh, PA | ESPN3 |
| 7 p.m. | Sweden vs. Europe | Washington, DC | ESPN3 | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Russia vs. Canada | Pittsburgh, PA | ESPN2 |
I think it’s interesting ESPN is broadcasting this…even if it is on ESPN the ocho. By all acounts this is an NHL event. Russia went to the NHL to try to get Voynov re-instated. As much as I dislike most of NBC’s broadcasts I just find it odd its not on NBC. I wonder who will be the play by play guy. Could this mean we get to hear Gary Thorne??
I’m sorry Towes has no business being at the World Cup. He’s the captain and gets paid over 10 million dollars to play for the Hawks. His first priority is to get his new young players on the right path.
He, more than anyone, could set the example and show his teammates, management and the city that winning the STANLEY Cup is all that matters.
Tha same goes for Crosby and every other NHL captain
It’s Toews, but here’s my rebuttal Mike. How much pre-season hockey do these guys play? Not much. So, this World Cup is a chance for the players in it to get into game shape before everyone else. They have just as much opportunity to get hurt in these games as they do training. Knock the rust off from the last 4.5 months and start the year off playing better hockey.
Why is there a pre-tournament? Are all the games listed exhibitions or do they have a bearing on how the groups are formed?
Pre-tournament would have to do with seeding I imagine.
Thanks for correcting my spelling…..all thumbs.
Not saying that the WC is too much hockey. But training camp is time for the team leaders to lead. For the Hawks, their on ice leader will be out of town. Dedication to his team and winning should take priority over the WC. Besides, Toews has been there and done that. He has nothing to prove
Sorry. See it happen a lot. Some people I think do it on purpose. Another way to look at the world cup. It’s another source of HRR…it’ll help increase the cap. Not having Toews in training camp to show the kids the way is a little silly. They’ll have Seabrook and Campbell there. They’ll have Q there. It’s a non issue
I agree with you Ernie, these players participating are going to be well ahead of all others at the start of the season. Just like when we had the lockout those players playing in Europe came back and were ready to go with all the others shaking off rust.
It’s Wednesday and that can mean only one thing – Jimmy Vesey in action in his summer pro league and Hawk brass lurking. I love it.
I didnt know it was a wednesday thing Craig. Must be the reporter in you.
Yes. Ernie. The dog days of summer for us hockey/Blackhawks junkies have us scrounging for any shred of information.
I had a buddy of mine in town from Buffalo this week. He’s a Sabres season ticket holder and has some family ties to the organization. For what it’s worth, he told this – “From what I understand you guys are getting Vesey, the Sabres know they are not.”
You can’t say things like that! I’m not going to be able to sleep for 12 days.
Until he signs I’m assuming he signs with the city on his Twitter profile.
Boston
Ernie,
The good news is, it appears Stan has a solid plan B. Jiri Hudler seems to be waiting to sign. Vesey is apparently the domino. If the Hawks fail to land him, it will be disappointing. But if we can plug in Hudler and get 50 points, not a bad consolation prize.
This was the column circulating today
http://www.tsn.ca/the-case-for-signing-jiri-hudler-1.536740
Mike; I agree, 10.5 makes you MY bitch. Don’t like it, go to the next team that pays 10.5 to anybody. ( of witch there are none)
Ernie; So if 19 get’s hurt in WC, you will pay 10.5?
The NHL set up the world cup. If the owners were that fearful of players getting injured. They wouldn’t have this made up event.
For all my fellow cap nerds…We have a problem in signing Vesey. A clause in the CBA I forgot about. Their is a maximum amount of signing bonus you can go over the cap. You can’t exceed the cap by 7.5% in bonuses. Which would mean the Hawks cant exceed 5.55 in bonuses….if I’m reading this correctly. Im seeing different numbers listed through different sources for players. For instance, one outlet says Kempny has 225 k in bonus money, anouther says 437,500. So going with the knowns and players we suspect to make the roster we have
Panarin 2.575
Campbell .75
Kempny .225 or .4375
And the players that may or may not make the roster
Schmaltz 350k
Hinostroza 257,500
Lundberg 232,500
Pokka 850k
Kero 257,500
Johnson 257,500
Dahlstrom 232,500
Norell 257,500
So if you use the higher number on Kempny that would give you 3.7625 in bonuses. Leaving you only 1.7875 rather than the 2.85 maximum. That also means no Schmaltz, Hinostroza, Kero, Lundberg, or Pokka
Ernie, lots of good posts. I have to think Bowman knows a way to make it work. Is it 10% above cap during ‘summer’ or that is just a bonus % thing.
10 percent in the summer. It appears the bonus thing during the season is 7.5% over the cap. So if they’re under by more dollars they can have more bonus money. Just can’t be over the cap by more than 7.5% due to bonuses. It’s a cushion. But there is a limit for cap teams like the Hawks.
@Craig If Vesey signs elsewhere, Hudler seems like a great plan B. He’s a Q style veteran that could swap with Motte and/or Schmaltz on the 1st or 3rd lines.
Every other team in on Vesey has the same Hudler back up plan.