University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set for World Cup of Hockey
9/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Link: World Cup of Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -Gopher Hockey alums Erik Haula, Erik Johnson, Blake Wheeler and Thomas Vanek are set to kick off the 2016 World Cup of Hockey this weekend in Toronto.
Wheeler and Johnson will compete for the U.S. while Haula will skate for Finland and Vanek will play with Team Europe.
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 17 and runs until Oct. 1 in Toronto. In addition to the U.S., Finland and Team Europe, the seven teams participating in the event include Canada, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden and Team North America.
All four Gopher alums have notable playing experience at the international level including Olympic appearances by Johnson (helped the U.S. to a silver medal in 2010), Wheeler (2014 for U.S.) and Vanek (2014 for Austria).
The World Cup of Hockey has been conducted on two previous occasions, with the U.S. winning the first edition in 1996 and Canada taking the title in 2004. Gopher Hockey alum Paul Martin skated for the U.S. squad in 2004 while Paul Holmgren served as an assistant coach for the U.S. in 1996.
-Pride on Ice-
