Hockey Canada announced its 20-man roster for the 2017 Spengler Cup on Wednesday. Players range in age from 21 to 37 and there are a number of former NHLers fans will recognize.
This year’s tournament is garnering more attention than it has in previous years because of what’s at stake. It’s the final pre-Olympic tournament Hockey Canada can use to evaluate which players are going to represent Canada in men’s hockey at PyeongChang 2018.
“The Spengler Cup allows us an opportunity to take another look at some players who’ve been part of earlier teams, as well as work with some new faces, just given how it aligns with other league schedules,” Team Canada general manager Sean Burke said in a press release. “Our goal remains to put together the best possible team to compete in PyeongChang in February. We’re looking forward to this opportunity to work with new players, and take part in this historic event.”
Canada will be looking for its third consecutive Spengler Cup title. The tournament begins Dec. 26 with Canada’s first game coming against Czech Republic club Mountfield HK. The Swiss national team, host team HC Davos, Latvian KHL team Dinamo Riga and HPK from Finland’s Liiga are the other teams competing in the tournament.
Here’s a look at the 12 forwards, six defencemen and two goalies that will wear the red and white maple leaf at this year’s Spengler Cup.
| Player | Position | Shoots | Height | Weight | Hometown | Current Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt D’Agostini | Forward | R | 6’0 | 198lbs | Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. | HC Ambri-Piotta (NLA) |
| Andrew Ebbett** | Forward | L | 5’9 | 176lbs | Vernon, B.C. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| Jake Evans | Forward | R | 6’0 | 185lbs | Toronto | University of Notre Dame |
| Curtis Hamilton | Forward | L | 6’2 | 212lbs | Kelowna, B.C. | SaiPa (Liiga) |
| Chris Kelly | Forward | L | 6’0 | 194lbs | Toronto | Belleville Senators |
| Jay McClement | Forward | L | 6’1 | 205lbs | Kingston, Ont. | EHC Olten (NLB) |
| David McIntyre** | Forward | L | 6’0 | 194lbs | Pefferlaw, Ont. | EV Zug (NLA) |
| P-A Parenteau | Forward | R | 6’0 | 201lbs | Boucherville, Ont. | Genève-Servette HC (NLA) |
| Mason Raymond** | Forward | L | 6’1 | 179lbs | Cochrane, Alta. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| Dylan Sikura | Forward | L | 5’11 | 159lbs | Aurora, Ont. | Northeastern University |
| Nick Spaling** | Forward | L | 6’1 | 198lbs | Palmerston, Ont. | Genève-Servette HC (NLA) |
| Christian Thomas | Forward | R | 5’9 | 174lbs | Toronto | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) |
| Victor Bartley | Defence | L | 6’0 | 216lbs | Maple Ridge, B.C. | Örebro HK (SHL) |
| Jeremy Davies | Defence | L | 5’11 | 181lbs | Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que. | Northeastern University |
| Cody Goloubef | Defence | R | 6’1 | 200lbs | Oakville, Ont. | Stockton Heat (AHL) |
| Brandon Hickey | Defence | L | 6’2 | 190lbs | Leduc, Alta. | Boston University |
| Maxim Noreau** | Defence | R | 6’0 | 198lbs | Montreal | SC Bern (NLA) |
| Jeff Schultz | Defence | L | 6’6 | 225lbs | Calgary | San Diego Gulls (AHL) |
| Barry Brust | Goalie | L | 6’3 | 240lbs | Swan River, Man. | HC Fribourg-Gottéron (NLA) |
| Kevin Poulin | Goalie | L | 6’2 | 205lbs | Montreal | Barys Astana (KHL) |
**denotes player represented Canada at the 2016 Spengler Cup
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