World Cup of hockey training camp, exhibition schedule released

The NHL announced Columbus will host Team USA’s 2016 World Cup training camp and an exhibition game. Team schedules here.

Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella should feel right at home when Team USA gathers in advance of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. USA Hockey announced on Wednesday that Columbus’s Nationwide Arena will play host to the pre-tournament training camp for the title-contending Americans.

“The World Cup of Hockey will bring together the best players in the world and I am honored to be the head coach of Team USA at the tournament,” Tortorella said in a statement. “It is a unique and special event and I am happy that our fans in Columbus will have this opportunity to be a part of it.”

The five-day camp will kick off on Sept. 5< and conclude with a pre-tournament game against Canada on Sept. 9.

This will be the second time that the Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena will host Team USA. Columbus was also home to Team USA’s training camp prior to the World Cup of Hockey in 2004.

2016 Hockey World Cup primer: teams, groups, schedule, GMs

It also was announced on Wednesday that Team Canada will convene at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre for its camp. The Under-23 Team North America and the multi-national Team Europe will split time between the Videotron Centre in Quebec City and the Bell Centre in Montreal. The Czech Republic will meet up at Prague’s O2 Arena. Team Finland will train at Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena while Sweden gears up at Gothenburg’s Scandinavium.

Team Russia has yet to announce its camp plans.

Organizers also revealed that each of the eight teams will participate in three exhibition games ahead of the tournament. Smartly, several of those games will be held in Europe, which should increase the fan engagement ahead of the actual event. While some details need to be fleshed out, here’s a look at what we know so far:

Who is likely to play for Team Europe in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey

, TVA Sports

Team Sweden vs. Team Finland at Hartwall Arena, Helsinki; Noon ET/7 p.m. local — TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Europe vs. Team North America at Videotron Centre, Quebec City; 8 p.m. ET — ESPN2, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Friday, September 9: Team Canada vs. Team USA at Nationwide Arena, Columbus; 7 p.m. ET — TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Europe leadership ready to build World Cup squad from scratch

Saturday, September 10:

Team Finland vs. Team Sweden at Scandinavium, Gothenburg; Noon ET/6 p.m. local — TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team USA vs. Team Canada at Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa; 7 p.m. ET — Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TBD

Sunday, September 11: Team Europe vs. Team North America at Bell Centre, Montreal; 6 p.m. ET— Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TBD

Tuesday, September 13: Team Finland vs. Team USA – Verizon Center, Washington, DC; 7 p.m. ET — ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

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Wednesday, September 14:

Team Sweden vs. Team Europe at Verizon Center, Washington, DC; 7 p.m. ET — TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports 2

Team Canada vs. Team Russia at CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh; 7:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey is set for September 17 through October 1 in Toronto.