“We’re excited to bring a U.S.-Canada game to Columbus as part of the preparations for the World Cup,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “It’s a tremendous city with passionate hockey fans who will be treated to what we think is the best international rivalry in hockey."

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are excited and honored to host Team USA as it prepares for what promises to be a thrilling World Cup of Hockey tournament,” said John Davidson, Blue Jackets president of hockey operations. “Having this special opportunity is a testament to our great city and tremendous fans and we’re very much looking forward to it.”

Ticket information for the U.S.-Canada game is expected to be released in January with special priority exclusively offered to Blue Jackets season ticket holders. Final details surrounding the camp, including practice dates and times, will be released closer to the camp.

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey is set for Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto. In addition to the U.S., the eight teams participating in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey will include Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Team Europe and Team North America.

NOTES: Following its game in Columbus on Sept. 9, Team USA will head to Ottawa for a game against Canada on Sept. 10. It will then continue its preparation for the World Cup in Washington, D.C., with practices at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, training facility of the Washington Capitals, and a game against Finland on Sept. 13 at Verizon Center …. Team USA is expected to arrive in Toronto on Sept. 14 and will begin competition in the World Cup of Hockey on Sept. 17 against Team Europe at Air Canada Centre … 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, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, will serve as head coach of Team USA … 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 NHLPA and the NHL, in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and its member federations.

TORONTO/NEW YORK (Dec. 16, 2015) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL^®) announced today the training camp information and slate of 12 pre-tournament games for the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

The training camps for all eight teams are expected to begin Sept. 4-5, with specific details related to each federation to be announced in the coming weeks. Each of the eight teams – Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden and Team United States – will play a total of three pre-tournament games. The training camps and pre-tournament games will be held in locations across Europe and North America.

The cities selected to host pre-tournament games are: Columbus, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC; Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec City; Prague; Gothenburg; Helsinki; and St. Petersburg.

Below are the details, subject to change, for the 12-game pre-tournament schedule that will be played from Sept. 8-14.

Thursday, September 8
Team Czech Republic vs. Team Russia – Ice Palace; St. Petersburg
Start time TBD – TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Sweden vs. Team Finland – Hartwall Arena; Helsinki
Noon ET/7 p.m. local – TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Europe vs. Team North America – Videotron Centre; Quebec City
8 p.m. ET – ESPN2, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Friday, September 9

Team Canada vs. Team USA – Nationwide Arena; Columbus
7 p.m. ET – TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Saturday, September 10
Team Russia vs. Team Czech Republic – O₂ Arena; Prague
10:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. local – TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Finland vs. Team Sweden – Scandinavium; Gothenburg
Noon ET/6 p.m. local – TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team USA vs. Team Canada – Canadian Tire Centre; Ottawa
7 p.m. ET – Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TBD

Sunday, September 11
Team Europe vs. Team North America – Bell Centre; Montreal
6 p.m. ET – Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TBD

Tuesday, September 13
Team Finland vs. Team USA – Verizon Center; Washington, DC
7 p.m. ET – ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Wednesday, September 14
Team Czech Republic vs. Team North America – CONSOL Energy Center; Pittsburgh
3:30 p.m. ET – TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Sweden vs. Team Europe – Verizon Center; Washington, DC
7 p.m. ET – TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports 2

Team Canada vs. Team Russia – CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh
7:30 p.m. ET – ESPN2, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

The World Cup of Hockey returns in September 2016 in Toronto, where eight teams, comprised of the world’s best hockey players, will compete for a best-on-best international hockey championship. The World Cup of Hockey is a joint effort of the NHLPA and the NHL, in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). It is expected that more than 150 of the best players in the NHL will participate in this tournament.

The Preliminary Round begins on Saturday, Sept. 17 with Group play at the Air Canada Centre. The Groups are:

Group AGroup B
Team Canada Team Finland
Team Czech Republic Team North America
Team Europe Team Russia
Team USA Team Sweden

The top two teams in each group advance to the Semifinals, which take place Sept. 24-25. The winners of each Semifinal will compete in the Final, a best-of-three series on Sept. 27, Sept. 29 and, if necessary, Oct. 1.
Live coverage of all tournament games will be provided by Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada and ESPN in the United States. A complete broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.

Tickets are available for purchase via www.Ticketmaster.ca and www.Ticketmaster.com, the official ticket marketplace of the NHL®. The offering is a World Cup of Hockey 2016 Tournament Pass, which provides admission to all games played at Air Canada Centre during the tournament. Pricing reflects a 17-game Tournament Pass and includes HST. Additional fees may apply. Prices are in Canadian dollars. This opportunity is available on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Official fan hospitality and travel packages for the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and all NHL signature events are available from PrimeSport, the Official Fan Travel and Hospitality Package Partner of the NHL. For more information please visit www.primesport.com/nhl.

For more information on the World Cup of Hockey 2016 please visit www.wch2016.com.