Some of the top Ottawa Senators players will be heading for Czechia to compete in the World Hockey Championships.
The World Hockey Championships get underway next week in Czechia and the rosters are starting to officially trickle out to the public. As expected, three members of the Ottawa Senators will be on Team USA. They include Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Shane Pinto, making it awfully tough for Ottawa fans to cheer against the Americans with their usual intensity.
A glance at the American squad would suggest that the Sens content won't just be on the team, they'll be a critical part of it.
At the moment, only 15 players have been named so far. The rest will be made up mostly of first round victims who haven't been eliminated yet from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Also on the team will be Sens' assistant coach Jack Capuano and video coach Mike King. Both men are in professional limbo right now until the Sens decide on a new head coach for this fall. Presumably, the new man will make the decisions on the existing staff.
Remarkably, the Americans haven't won this tournament since 1960.
Meanwhile, Canada has unveiled a fuller roster of 22 as they open defence of their world title. Canada has won two of the last three tournaments and rookie Ridly Greig will be the sole Senator player to wear the leaf. He'll be joined by Head Athletic Therapist, Domenic Nicoletta, Head Equipment Manager, John Forget, and Team Doctor, Tim Cregan.
Dominik Kubalik, who dominated this tournament last year, finishing second in scoring, is expected to suit up for Czechia. Should the Belleville Senators fall at some point in round two of the AHL playoffs, it's possible a player like Jiri Smejkal may be considered after repping for the Czechs at this event last year. Denmark might check on goalie Mads Sogaard as well.
Canada opens up against Great Britain in what should be an absolute beatdown next Saturday. The U.S. gets a much tougher opener, facing Sweden next Friday.