USA Hockey Announces First 16 Players On 2016 World Cup Roster

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A total of 12 Olympians highlight the first 16 players named to the U.S. roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, it was announced tonight by USA Hockey.

"We're excited about our team and this first group of players that we named tonight," said Dean Lombardi, general manager of Team USA and also the GM of the NHL's L.A. Kings. "It's a challenge naming only 16 players, as an important part of our team is yet to be selected. We're confident this is the start of a group that will compliment each other really well and assume team roles that will lead to team success. These 16 players all excel in their compete level, overall skill and selflessness, which will be key components of our team."

The U.S. will reveal the remaining seven players of its 23-man roster (20 forwards/defensemen, 3 goaltenders) by June 1 as per the guidelines set forth by the NHL and NHLPA.

The Olympians on the roster include goaltender Jonathan Quick (Milford, Conn./LA Kings/2010, 2014); defensemen John Carlson (Natick, Mass./Washington Capitals/2014), Ryan McDonagh (St. Paul, Minn./NY Rangers/2014) and Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./Minnesota Wild/2010, 2014); and forwards Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks/2010, 2014), Ryan Kesler (Livonia, Mich./Anaheim Ducks/2014), Max Pacioretty (New Canaan, Conn./Montreal Canadiens/2014), Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Wild, 2010, 2014), Joe Pavelski (Plover, Wis./San Jose Sharks/2010, 2014), Blake Wheeler (Plymouth, Minn./Winnipeg Jets/2014), T.J. Oshie (Warroad, Minn./Washington Capitals/2014) and Derek Stepan (Hastings, Minn./NY Rangers/2014).

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.

Additionally, USA Hockey announced the support staff for its 2016 World Cup of Hockey team, including trainers Ray Barile (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Louis Blues) and Chris Kingsley (Greenfield, Mass./Los Angeles Kings); team doctor Dr. Michael Stuart (Rochester, Minn.); equipment managers Bert Godin (Lewiston, Maine/St. Louis Blues) and Derek Settlemyre (High Point, N.C./Philadelphia Flyers); and massage therapist Chris Pikosky (Estero, Fla). USA Hockey’s Dave Fischer (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and KimberAuerbach (Morristown, N.J./NY Islanders) will serve as the team's communications staff.

NOTES: Cumulatively, members of Team USA have captured 18 medals in international competition, with seven players earning gold … Thirteen (JustinAbdelkader, Ben Bishop, Ryan Kesler, Ryan McDonagh, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, T.J. Oshie, JonathanQuick, Derek Stepan, RyanSuter, Cory Schneider, Blake Wheeler) played NCAA Division I hockey … Six players (JustinAbdelkader, John Carlson, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, JoePavelski, Blake Wheeler) are alumni of the United States Hockey League … Three players were full-time members of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Suter) ... The players represent 12 different National Hockey League Teams … All players but Dustin Byfuglien have represented the U.S. in international competition previously ... 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.) is the head coach of the 2016 U.S. World Cup of Hockey Team, with Mike Sullivan (Duxbury, Mass.), John Hynes (Warwick, R.I.), Phil Housley (South St. Paul, Minn.), Jack Capuano (Cranston, R.I.) and Scott Gordon (Easton, Mass.) 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.