The World Cup of Hockey (WCH) made its return this year after a 12-year absence. Since Sept. 17, eight teams made up of players from around the world have been vying for the title of World Champions. Now, the tournament is down to two teams: Team Europe and Team Canada. The best-of-three championship series is set to kick-off on Tuesday.
Team Canada has been a powerhouse throughout the tournament and is currently undefeated. They eliminated Team USA in the round robin stage and then ousted Team Russia in the semifinal round on Saturday. So far, they’ve outscored their opponents 19-6 throughout the tournament. Backstopped by goaltender Carey Price and stacked with some of the top players in the NHL like Sidney Crosby, Shea Weber, and Steven Stamkos, Team Canada is a force to be reckoned with.
https://youtu.be/mvnFwe9MO04
On the other side of the faceoff dot lies Team Europe. Consisting of players from multiple countries within Europe, the team has meshed surprisingly well and has made an unlikely run to the finals of the WCH. Losing only one of their three round robin games, the team went on to the semifinals to beat Team Czech Republic 3-2 in overtime. Europe’s only loss in the tournament came at the hands of Canada.
https://youtu.be/5H7VfEspcnU
The world of hockey will focus its eyes on two teams in the coming days as the WCH draws to a close. A champion could be crowned by Thursday if one team wins two games in a row. However, don’t write off Europe just yet. The first of a potential three game series airs on ESPN at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
