Team North America faces off against Team Europe

TEAM EUROPE, TEAM NORTH AMERICA DEBUT IN QUEBEC CITY
The World Cup of Hockey 2016 pretournament schedule begins Thursday with three games, including the first appearances of Team Europe and Team North America, which face each other at Videotron Centre in Quebec City (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, TVA Sports).
Team Europe is comprised of a European roster of players born outside the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden, featuring players from eight different nations, led by captain Anze Kopitar (Slovenia) and alternate captains Zdeno Chara (Slovakia) and Mark Streit (Switzerland).

Team North America was selected from a pool of the best players age 23 or younger (as of Oct. 1) from Canada and the United States. Its roster features 16 first-round selections in the NHL Draft, including five of the past six No. 1 picks: Auston Matthews (2016), Connor McDavid (2015), Aaron Ekblad (2014), Nathan MacKinnon (2013) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011).

TICKETS FOR WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY CONCERTS ON SALE
* Grammy-nominated rock bandThe Killerswill headline thePepsi World Cup of Hockey Premiere Party at the Scotiabank World Cup of Hockey Fan Village in downtown Toronto's historic Distillery District on Sept. 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The festivities also will include a parade of players from each of the participating teams.
* The Scotiabank World Cup of Hockey Fan Village will salute members of Canada's 2016 Olympic team followed by a live performance from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy Award-winning rock band Green Dayon Friday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
* Tickets for both concerts are available via
www.Ticketmaster.ca
.
SCOTIABANK WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY FAN VILLAGE TO OPEN SEPT. 16
The Scotiabank World Cup of Hockey Fan Village, a 10-day free fan festival in downtown Toronto's historic Distillery District, will be open to the public from Sept. 16-25. The free festival will celebrate the food, music and culture of all participating hockey nations, and each day will feature a new and thrilling lineup of fun, family-oriented activities.
NHL NETWORK TO LAUNCH DOCUMENTARY SERIES
NHL Network will explore hockey's rich history and tradition in its first documentary series, NHL Network Originals. To mark the start of the World Cup of Hockey 2016, the network presents Orchestrating an Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey,premiering Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 10:00 p.m. ET, 20 years to the day Team USA defeated favored Team Canada to win the inaugural World Cup of Hockey.
LOOSE PUCKS
Alex Ovechkinwas named Team Russia caption for the World Cup. Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk will serve as alternates. … Joe Pavelskiwas named Team USA captain, with Patrick Kane and Ryan Suter alternates.