Former NHLers highlight Canada’s 2022 Spengler Cup roster
Canada has revealed its roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, with the team looking to win gold for the fifth time in six events later next week.
This marks the first time the Spengler has occurred since 2019, with COVID-19 forcing the past two runnings to be cancelled.
Canada's roster for the Spengler Cup is here.
Some notable names like Tyler Ennis, David Desharnais, Brett Connolly, Cody Eakin and goaltenders Michael Hutchinson and Michael DiPietro. #SpenglerCup pic.twitter.com/X1Ak0sOIrP
The roster features a host of former NHLers, including Tyler Ennis, Brett Connolly, Cody Eakin, Daniel Carr and Daniel Winnik. There are also nine AHLers, including goaltender Michael Hutchinson, defensemen Kevin Connauton and Josh Brook, and forwards Brendan Perlini and Riley Nash, among others.
Three players from the team that won gold in 2019 – Winnik, Desharnais and DiDomenico – will return, while DiDomenico will be participating for the sixth time. Desharnais and Winnik were also part of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games roster that was knocked out of the quarterfinal.
Canada is going with Hutchinson and Michael DiPietro as its goaltenders. Hutchinson, 32, has never represented Canada internationally but has 137 games of NHL experience with Toronto, Florida, Winnipeg and Colorado. He currently plays with Vegas’ AHL team in Henderson, where he shares the net with Lauren Brossoit and Jiri Patera.
DiPietro was Canada’s starting goalie from the 2019 World Junior Championship team and has been involved with the team at the men’s World Championship, U-18s, and U-17 World Hockey Challenge. After starting the year as an extra goaltender with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat, he was traded to Boston and currently plays for Maine in the ECHL.
Canada is chasing gold for the 17th time in tournament history. They’ll open the tournament against HC Sparta Praha in the preliminary round, with Davos being their last opponent in the round-robin. The Spengler is the oldest invitational tournament in the world, with six teams battling for the title from Dec. 26-31.
Canada will be coached by Travis Green, with Josh Holden and Scott Niedermayer serving as assistants. The management group is run by Shane Doan, with Daniel Briere, Andrew Ebbett and Ray Whitney helping to select the roster.