Canada announces 2023 Spengler Cup roster featuring former NHLers
Hockey Canada has announced its roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland.
The Spengler Cup is the oldest invitational hockey tournament, and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The six-team tournament field is comprised of Canada, HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czechia), KalPa (Finland), Frolunda HC (Sweden), HC Ambri-Piotta and the hosts, HC Davos.
Canada's Spengler Cup roster is here. pic.twitter.com/Zh2lrcfgfE
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 22, 2023Canada is the most successful team in tournament history, winning the championship 16 times and finishing second 10. Canada won it four times in five years before the 2020 and 2021 tournaments were cancelled due to COVID-19. But the Canadians struggled mightily in 2022, failing to make it to the semifinal for the first time in tournament history after failing to win a single game. HC Ambri-Piotta, a Swiss-based team, won the championship for the first time.
Canada’s roster is mainly composed of AHL, college and European pro players, with a large majority coming from the National League in Switzerland. The team is full of NHL experience, including Jordie Benn, Nathan Beaulieu, Ty Smith and Josh Jooris.
Canada’s goaltending crop will be made up of Thomas Milic, who was Canada’s goaltender at the 2023 World Junior Championship; Aaron Dell, who recently joined the Carolina Hurricanes on a PTO and has 130 games of NHL experience; and Tyler Beskorowany, who was a second-round pick by the Dallas Stars in 2008.
Defenseman Nicolas Beaudin and forwards Jonathan Eng and Chris DiDomenico were part of Canada’s team in 2022. DiDomenico, 34, has played in this tournament six other times dating back to 2015.
Of note, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Massimo Rizzo is set to make his Spengler Cup debut. Rizzo leads the NCAA with 31 points in just 18 games as a junior at the University of Denver.
Other players with NHL experience at the Spengler Cup include Ambri-Piotta’s Peter Mueller, Julius Honka and Alex Formenton, as well as HC Davos’ Tomas Jurco and Joakim Nordstrom.