Hockey Canada has taken its first steps in shaping its roster for the 2018 Olympic Games, by announcing two teams who will play in pre-tournament action.
Canada will send one team to Russia for the 2017 Sochi Hockey Open from Aug. 6-9 and another for the 2017 Tournament of Nikolai Puchkov Aug. 14-17.
Former NHLers Mason Raymond and Max Talbot highlight a Sochi Open roster that will be back-stopped by former Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Justin Peters.
Headlining Canada’s squad at the Nikolai Puchkov tournament is Derek Roy, who played eight seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before spending his last five NHL seasons with five different teams.
Canada’s GM Sean Burke said earlier he expects the bulk of the roster will come from European-based players.
The Olympic hockey tournament is slated for Feb. 9-25. Full rosters can be seen below.
Team Canada’s rosters for August’s tournaments
Sochi Hockey Open
Forwards: Justin Azevedo, Gilbert Brulé, Brandon Buck, Kevin Clark, Andrew Ebbett, Bud Holloway, Rob Klinkhammer, Brandon Kozun, Ben Maxwell, Brandon McMillan, Eric O’Dell, Daniel Paille, Mason Raymond, Max Talbot, Linden Vey
Defence: Chay Genoway, Geoff Kinrade, Patrick McNeill, Maxim Noreau, Mat Robinson, Jonathan Sigalet, Karl Stollery
Goaltenders: Justin Peters, Kevin Poulin
Tournament of Nikolai Puchkov
Forwards: Taylor Beck, Sean Collins, Cory Emmerton, Ryan Garbutt, Andrew Gordon, David McIntyre, Jacob Micflikier, Trevor Parkes, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Derek Roy, Greg Scott, Paul Szczechura, James Wright
Defence: Cam Barker, Carlo Colaiacovo, Stefan Elliott, Marc-Andre Gragnani, Kevin Klein, Shawn Lalonde, Craig Schira
Goaltenders: Kevin Poulin, Ben Scrivens
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