San Jose Sharks forward, Logan Couture has been added to the
roster for Team Canada’s 2016 World Cup Hockey.
Couture will replace Dallas Star’s captain, Jamie Benn who
had surgery on his core muscles last month. Benn had been expected to miss
about six weeks and should be ready for the regular season.
The 27-year-old forward missed nearly two months of the season
this past year, but put up 15 goals and 21 assists in 52 games. During the 2016
Stanley Cup Playoffs, Couture led the National Hockey League with 20 assists
and 30 points. He helped lead the Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Final in
team history.
Team Canada general manager, Doug Armstrong said, “We are excited to add Logan to Team Canada.
He has developed into a top player in the NHL, and his versatility will benefit
our group of forwards. In making this decision the management group consulted
with our coaching staff and determined that Logan was the best fit to help fill
the role that Jamie was projected to play on Team Canada.”
He added, “We want to
thank Jamie for his dedication for an extensive rehab program in an attempt to
play for Team Canada. Unfortunately, Jamie will not be available and we wish
him a speedy recovery.”
Prior to last season, Benn had surgery on each of his hips.
In the 2015-2016 campaign he finished second in scoring with 89 points and
third in goals with 41. Benn was the third place finisher for the Hart Memorial
Trophy, for Most Valuable Player in the NHL.
Benn scored 15 goals in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games this
past season and played in all 82 regular season games for the second straight
season. His scored two more points last season than he scored during the
2014-2015 NHL season.
At an event on July 30, just two weeks following his surgery,
Benn had hoped he would be ready for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Eight teams will compete during the tournament which will
run from September 17th through October 1st, at the Air
Canada Centre in Toronto. ESPN will televise all of the games in the United
States, while Sportsnet and TVA Sports will carry the games for the Canadian
viewers.
The eight teams will represent the United States, Canada, Czech
Republic, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Team Europe and Team North America. The
North American team will consist of players from the US and Canada, 23 years of
age or younger.
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
G Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
D Jake Muzzin, Los Angeles Kings
D Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks
D Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens
F Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks*
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
F Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
F Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
F Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
F Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
* - named to roster Tuesday
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