Philadelphia Flyers will have a prospect representing Team Canada at the 2023 Spengler Cup.
Massimo Rizzo, a Junior at Denver University, has been named to Team Canada's roster for the 2023 Spengler Cup, Hockey Canada announced on Friday.
The Spengler Cup is held annually every December in Switzerland. Team Canada has been well-represented at this tournament since 1984. This year's Spengler Cup begins the day after Christmas on Boxing Day, similar to the World Juniors. Canada will open the tournament against Frolunda HC (Sweden).
Six countries are being represented at the Cup and will all play in a preliminary from December 26-28 before the quarterfinals on December 29, semifinals on December 30 and the championship game on December 31.
Rizzo is a seventh-round draft pick (216th overall) in 2019. The Carolina Hurricanes traded him with a 2025 fifth-round pick this past summer. At 22, he leads Division-I NCAA in assists with 24 and 31 points through 18 games. Scoring 7 goals in that span. Massimo Rizzo is a Burnaby, British Columbia native with eight power-play assists on the year and ranks first in the country with a 19 plus/minus rating.
Massimo RizzoTo begin the season, Rizzo has been awarded NCHC Player of the Month and National Co-Player of the Month. He produced 17 points in his first eight games and sported an eight-game point streak (5 goals, 12 assists).
Not only is this a special accomplishment for the young Italian. He will be the first college player in the Spengler Cup for Team Canada since Ian Mitchell in 2019.
Rizzo has played on the international stage three times in his career, playing for Canada Black at the 2017 WHC-U17 and Canada West at the 2018 and 2019 World Junior-A Challenge. However, this will be the first time since then that he will have the maple leaf across his chest in red and white.
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