Coyotes’ Ekman-Larsson, Hanzal named to World Cup rosters

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Two current Coyotes and one recently departed player were named to their respective nations’ teams for the World Cup of Hockey this fall in Toronto.

Defenseman Oliver-Ekman-Larsson was chosen for Team Sweden, center Martin Hanzal was chosen for the Czech Republic and just-traded forward Mikkel Boedker made Team Europe, a squad comprised of players from any nation on the continent except the four which have national teams competing: Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.

“I already knew,” Ekman-Larsson said when asked about Wednesday’s announcement. “It’s always fun to represent your country and I think it’s going to be a really fun tournament to be a part of.”

Ekman-Larsson was expected to make the team anyway, but he said Team Sweden scout and former NHL great Nicklas Lidstrom told him he would be part of the team on a recent visit to the Valley.

“It was unbelievable,” Ekman-Larsson said of the meeting with his childhood idol. “I got the chance to have lunch with him and we sat down and talked a little bit.”

Hanzal said he found out a couple days ago.

“I would say it’s comparable to the Olympics because you have all the best players in the world playing,” Hanzal said. “When you go to the World Championship you don’t have all the best players because they are still competing for the Stanley Cup.

“It’s a little shorter (than the Olympics) with less teams but I think it’s going to be fun.”

All eight teams for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey named their preliminary rosters on Wednesday with the remaining slots due by June 1.

No Coyotes were chosen for the other six teams, although Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Connor Murphy all could be in the mix for the final roster spots for Team North America, while Tobias Rieder is in the mix for one of the final four forwards spots on Team Europe, an NHL source said. Team Canada’s roster is stacked, leaving no room for a sentimental Shane Doan selection.

The tournament takes place in Toronto from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said regular NHL training camps are expected to begin Sept. 22 and run 20 days, per regulations in the collective bargaining agreement. That would give players competing in the tournament enough time to return for a shortened camp with their NHL teams.

The eight teams competing are Team Canada, Team USA, Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team Czech Republic. Team Finland, Team North America and Team Europe. Team North America will be comprised of players 23 years old or younger as of Oct. 1, 2016.

Each World Cup team will include 20 skaters and three goalies, with more than 150 NHL players expected to participate and a small number of non-NHL players completing the rosters. The remaining players are on each team’s roster must be submitted by June 1.

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett was named to head coach Todd McLellan’s staff for the North American team.

Ducks at Coyotes

When: Gila River Arena, Glendale

Where: Thursday, 7 p.m.

TV: FOX Sports Arizona Plus

Radio: ESPN 620 AM

Season series: Coyotes lead, 3-1

Probable goalies: Ducks — Frederik Andersen. Coyotes — Niklas Treutle.

Injury report: Ducks — F Chris Stewart (jaw), D Simon Despres (flu) and F Brandon Pirri (ankle) are out. Coyotes — G Mike Smith (abdominal surgery) is likely to return in the next week or two. C Boyd Gordon (upper body) is day to day. G Anders Lindback (Achilles) and RW Joe Vitale (concussion symptoms) are out for the season.

Scouting the Ducks: After a horrid start, the Ducks are the NHL’s hottest team. Anaheim won its ninth straight game in Wednesday’s shootout win over Montreal to draw even with Los Angeles atop the Pacific Division. … F Jamie McGinn, who was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres prior to the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, made his debut Wednesday on the second line with Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry and scored a goal. … C Ryan Getzlaf leads the Ducks with 51 points and is tied for sixth in the NHL with 42 assists, but had his 11-game point streak snapped against the Canadiens.

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