As hockey followers ready to observe their favourite NHL gamers participate within the 4 Nations Face-Off, the primary best-on-best match since 2016, they obtained extra excellent news forward of puck drop.
The World Cup of Hockey will return in 2028, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman introduced on the Bell Centre in a joint press convention with NHLPA government director Marty Walsh.
“Worldwide best-on-best competitors is essential to our gamers — representing their nations on the ice is of their DNA — and hockey followers like it,” Bettman mentioned lower than two hours earlier than Canada and Sweden have been set to fulfill within the opening sport of the 4 Nations match. “Resuming Olympic participation subsequent season and staging a World Cup of Hockey in February 2028 will present expanded alternative for extra gamers to symbolize extra nations in best-on-best competitors.
“With this match — and the World Cup’s return to common rotation — the NHL and NHLPA take a serious step in our joint dedication to worldwide hockey.”
Collectively organized by the NHL and NHLPA, the World Cup of Hockey will function the world’s high gamers competing in a world match. Will probably be the match’s fourth version, which was beforehand held in 1996, 2004, and 2016.
“The gamers love representing their nations on the worldwide hockey stage, and we’re thrilled to choose up on the momentum of the 4 Nations Face-Off by saying the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 to determine a full worldwide calendar of best-on-best,” Walsh mentioned. “It is likely one of the best honors for any participant who will get to play on the worldwide stage sporting their house nation’s hockey sweater.
“Hockey followers around the globe are about to be handled to distinctive hockey with one of the best gamers on the earth competing in opposition to one another for worldwide hockey glory.”
The World Cup will function NHL guidelines, NHL referees and linesmen, and NHL-sized rinks.
A bidding course of for host cities and venues is anticipated to start within the coming months. NHL gamers are additionally set to return to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Video games and once more to the French Alps in 2030.
Staff Canada was excellent on the 2016 World Cup in Toronto, topping Staff Europe in a best-of-three championship ultimate.
–Area Stage Media
