Earlier this week, the Spengler Cup organizing committee confirmed the six teams that will compete in this year’s edition of the tournament. For the first time, it will include a team of U.S. Collegiate Selects [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/team-of-ncaa-selects-to-play-in-spengler-cup]. On Friday, the groups and schedule were announced [https://www.spenglercup.ch/en/tournament/teams-schedule]. The format will be the same as it’s been for the last several years, with the losers from the first day playing the following day and the winners getting a day off. No teams are eliminated in the group stage, but the group winners advance directly to the semifinals while the second- and third-place teams play cross-over quarterfinal games. All games will be played at 15:10 and 20:15 Central European Time (9:10 AM and 2:15 PM Eastern Time) except for the final, which will be played at 12:10 local time (6:10 AM ET), meaning the winner of the second semifinal game will face a very quick turnaround. Torriani Group: Fribourg-Gottéron [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/fribourg-gott%C3%A9ron-wins-spengler-cup-for-the-first-time], Sparta Prague [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/former-sabres-first-rounder-signs-with-sparta-prague], IFK Helsinki [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/islanders-goalie-signs-in-finland] Cattini Group: HC Davos [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/confirmed-brendan-lemieux-signs-multi-year-deal-with-hc-davos], Team Canada [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/canada-announces-spengler-cup-roster], U.S. Collegiate Selects [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/team-of-ncaa-selects-to-play-in-spengler-cup] The schedule opens with defending champion Fribourg-Gottéron from Switzerland taking on Czech club Sparta Prague followed by a rare North American derby between Team Canada and the U.S. Collegiate Selects. SCHEDULE Friday, Dec. 26: 15:10 Fribourg-Gottéron vs. Sparta Prague 20:15 Team Canada vs. U.S. Collegiate Selects Saturday, Dec. 27: 15:10 IFK Helsinki vs. loser of Fribourg-Gottéron/ Sparta Prague 20:15 HC Davos vs. loser of Team Canada/U.S. Collegiate Selects Sunday, Dec. 28: 15:10 Winner of Fribourg-Gottéron/Sparta Prague vs IFK Helsinki 20:15 Winner of Team Canada/U.S. Collegiate Selects vs. HC Davos Monday, Dec. 29: 15:10 Quarterfinal 1: Torriani 2nd place vs. Cattini 3rd place 20:15 Quarterfinal 2: Cattini 2nd place vs. Torriani 3rd place Tuesday, Dec. 30: 15:10 Semifinal 1: Cattini 1st place vs. winner of Quarterfinal 1 20:15 Semifinal 2: Torriani 1st place vs. winner of Quarterfinal 2 Wednesday, Dec. 31: 12:10 Final: Semifinal 1 vs. Semifinal 2 Photo © Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images: Brendan Lemieux, pictured playing for the Los Angeles Kings in 2022, is now under contract with Spengler Cup host HC Davos. Team Of NCAA Selects To Play In Spengler Cup [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e8d8ff1d-91cd-4ce6-89d2-925e1830c360.webp] Team Of NCAA Selects To Play In Spengler Cup The field of six teams that will compete in the 97th edition of the Spengler Cup is now complete following Tuesday’s announcement that a team of collegiate players – basically an <a href="http://thn.com/ncaa">NCAA</a> all-star team – will compete. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/team-of-ncaa-selects-to-play-in-spengler-cup]