from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,

Still think the World Cup of Hockey is gimmicky?

Still think the eight-team tournament will play second fiddle to the Blue Jays, barbecuing and bike riding over the next two weeks?

If so, prepare to eat your words.

Prepare to be captivated by an eight-team showdown featuring the largest number of the world’s best players as has ever been assembled.

Unlike the Olympics or World Championships — in which dozens of scrubs participate for second-tier hockey nations like Latvia, Austria and Norway — this is the very best on best.

With the addition of the European all-stars and the North American Young Guns, no one fell through the cracks — the most talented players in the world are all here.

It’s not gimmicky, it’s genius.

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