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NHL calls off potential 2021 World Cup of Hockey

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman eliminated the possibility of a potential World Cup of Hockey in 2021, explaining Tuesday at the NHL Board of Governors meeting there is not enough time to “get it done,” according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Last January, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association also ruled out the possibility of a World Cup tournament in 2020.

The NHL and NHLPA are now focused on organizing full-fledged World Cup of Hockey tournaments in 2024 and 2028, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

The World Cup tournament was last held in 2016 because the NHL didn’t allow its players to compete in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. The 2016 World Cup had eight teams: Canada (players age 24 and older), Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, United States (players age 24 and older), Team Europe (players from other European nations) and Team North America (players age 23 and under from Canada and United States).

Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford, defenseman Duncan Keith and center Jonathan Toews won the tournament with Canada, who defeated Team Europe 2-0 in a best-of-three final.

Six other Blackhawks at the time competed in the tournament: Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin (Russia), Teuvo Teravainen (Finland), Niklas Hjalmarsson (Sweden), Marian Hossa (Europe) and Patrick Kane (United States).

Brandon Saad, who was with Columbus at the time, played for Team North America.

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