World Cup 2016 dates, odds: Abdelkader, Larkin lead Red Wings into action
The 2016 Hockey World Cup is scheduled to get underway this week, and seven Detroit Red Wings are scheduled to participate.
The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the best teams in the NHL over the last 20 years, and now they are going to have a chance to show off their young talent in the 2016 World Cup. Justin Abdelkader and Dylan Larkin are two of the more popular names that will represent the Wings later this month in the classic tournament that gives the entire globe a chance to root for their hometown players.
According to Mlive, Abdelkader and Larkin are among seven Red Wings participating in the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto – however they won’t be teammates, even though they are both from Michigan.
Abdelkader is part of Team USA, Larkin will skate for Team North America. The difference is TNA will consist of the top 23-and-under U.S. and Canadian-born players, while Team USA is just American born players.
Eight teams, and nearly 150 NHL players in total, will be battling for “world domination on ice” this September. The teams include Team Canada, Team USA, Team Czech Republic, Team Finland, Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team Europe and Team North America. The action is scheduled to begin on September 17 and conclude on October 1st.
While Abdelkader and Larkin are both eager to hit the ice for the Wings, they are excited to be involved in this tourney as well.
“It’s great for the league, great for all the countries involved, the players,” Abdelkader said. “It’s a good way to kind of kick the season off.” Larkin added “It’s cool how players from Canada and the U.S. come together,” “It’s going to be a bit of a feeling-out process, lot of players from different teams, but I think it’ll go well and we’ll be an exciting team to watch.”
This tournament has been a battle between the US and Canada in recent history. Team USA took home the title in 1996, while Team Canada was the last team standing in 2004. With those results, it is no surprise that Team Canada is the favorite to win the World Cup again this year.
According to Bovada Sports, Team Canada is the overwhelming favorite at -110. Right behind Canada is Russia (+400), Sweden (+500) and rounding out the top four is Team USA at +600.
Other Red Wings who will be suiting up for World Cup action include Petr Mrazek (Czech Republic), Alexey Marchenko (Russia) and Tomas Tatar, Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek (Europe). Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall withdrew from Team Sweden due to injuries.
Here is a glance at the complete odds to win the 2016 World Cup of hockey.
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