Mikko Koivu named Team Finland captain for World Cup

TORONTO/NEW YORK -- The Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced Monday that Minnesota Wild forward
Mikko Koivu
will serve as Team Finland's Captain at the World Cup of Hockey 2016.
Koivu has 161 goals and 556 points over 11 NHL seasons and has been captain of the Wild since 2009. He played in all 82 regular-season games last season and had 17 goals and 39 assists. He had three goals and two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Koivu, 33, has served as captain of Team Finland in three IIHF World Championship tournaments, including its 2011 championship squad. In 2004, Koivu, who was 21 at the time, helped Finland reach the World Cup of Hockey championship game. He was unable to play at the 2014 Sochi Olympics because of a broken ankle.
From Sept. 17 to Oct. 1, eight teams -- Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden and Team USA -- will compete in the two-week tournament, featuring more than 170 of the best players in the NHL. All tournament games will be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Team Finland plays its first game of the tournament on Sept. 18 against Team North America (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2).
For more information on the World Cup of Hockey 2016, visit
www.wch2016.com
. #WCH2016