Congratulations to Zach Parise & @rsuter20 on being named to Team USA for #WCH2016: https://t.co/cIvIRYM7KM #mnwild pic.twitter.com/xCvphv2mCC
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 2, 2016
Minnesotans will play a big role on the the 2016 U.S. World Cup of Hockey team.
USA Hockey announced the first 16 players to make up the team for this summer’s World Cup team. Of those 16 players, seven are directly connected to Minnesota.
- Zach Parise F – Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota Wild
- Ryan Suter D – Madison, WI – Minnesota Wild
- Ryan McDonagh D – St. Paul, MN – New York Rangers
- Dustin Byfuglien D – Roseau,MN – Winnipeg Jets
- T.J.Oshie F – Warroad, MN – Washington Capitals
- Derek Stepan F – Hastings, MN – New York Rangers
- Blake Wheeler F – Plymouth, MN – Winnipeg Jets
Parise is playing in his eighth international tournament for the United States. The Bloomington native has tallied 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) for the Wild this season. He was the team captain for the U.S. team in the 2014 Olympics.
Suter will be competing in his 12th international tournament for the United States. He was an alternate captain for Team USA in the 2014 Olympics. He also earned a silver medal in the 2010 Olympics while serving as an alternate captain for the U.S. Team.
Oshie’s international highlight came during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, when he helped lift Team USA over Russia during an epic shootout.
John Tortorella will coach the U.S. squad, which is heavy on experience.
“We’re extremely proud of the players we’ve selected."- Dean Lombardi, GM#WCH2016
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) March 3, 2016
5 Wild players participating in World Cup
In addition to Suter and Parise three other members of the Wild will participate in the World Cup.
Mikael Granlund and Mikko Koivu were named to Team Finland and Thomas Vanek was named to Team Europe.
Granlund has recorded 33 points (7 goals, 26 assists) in 64 games for the Wild this season. He has played in nine international tournaments for Finland.
Koivu is the veteran of the group having played in 13 international tournaments for Finland. He led the team in scoring as captain at the 2012 World Championship. He has 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) for the Wild this season.
Vanek will be playing in his seventh international tournament, having played in 6 tournaments for Austria. He has recorded 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists) for the Wild this season.
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will be played Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto. The event will include the U.S., Canada, Czech Republic, Europe, Finland, North America, Russia and Sweden.
