Chicago Blackhawks fans will get their first look at the team’s newly acquired defenseman Michal Kempny at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The 25-year-old blue liner was named to the Czech Republic’s roster for the tournament, the federation announced Friday.
He scored five goals and 21 points in 59 games for Avangard Omsk in the KHL this past season. The left-handed shooter added two goals and two assists in 11 games during the Gagarin Cup playoffs. He was one of the first four defenseman named to the Czech Republic’s World Cup of Hockey roster.
He most recently represented his county at the World Champioships where he tallied two assists in in eight games.
Team Czech Republic announces final roster for World Cup of Hockey 2016. #WCH2016 pic.twitter.com/KDzbwGL9De
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 27, 2016
This year’s World Cup of Hockey, which represents the event’s return after a hiatus, is set for September and will be held in Toronto. The format is slightly modified from the past World Cup tournaments, with six national teams and two special “all-star teams” participating.
The eight teams that will compete this year are the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia and the Czech Republic, plus Team Europe and Under-23 Team North America.
Here is when the teams will announce their rosters:
Here’s Friday’s sked for announcements of remainder of World Cup roster spots. pic.twitter.com/J01mcRQTOl
— Jason Kay (@JKTHN) May 26, 2016