Two preliminary round games on schedule Saturday

SATURDAY GAMES
Team USA at Team Europe, 3:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, TVA Sports
Team Czech Republic at Team Canada, 8 p.m. ET; ESPNEWS, SN, TVA Sports

WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY 2016 BEGINS WITH TWO GAMES
The World Cup begins Saturday with two games at Air Canada Centre:
* Team USA, who finished 2-1-0 in pretournament play, meets Team Europe in the opening game of the tournament. Derek Stepanpaced Team USA with 2-2-4 and tied for the team lead with a plus-4 rating in the three games. Jonathan Quick, who will start, stopped 62 of the 65 shots he faced in pretournament action (1.80 GAA, .954 SV%). Leon Draisaitl(3-0-3) sparked Team Europe to its lone win in pretournament play with a hat trick in its pretournament finale. Jaroslav Halakstarts after making 73 saves on 81 shots against in three appearances (2.86 GAA, .901 SV%).
* Team Canada and Team Czech Republic, who both went 2-1-0 in pretournament play face off in the second game. Drew Doughty, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, paced Team Canada with 1-3-4 and a plua-5 rating. Carey Price will start in goal after stopping 45-of-50 shots (2.44 GAA, .900 SV%). Team Czech Republic is led by captain Tomas Plekanec, who shared first overall with three goals. Team Czech Republic has yet to name its starter in goal after Michal Neuvirth(0.63 GAA, .978 SV%) and Petr Mrazek(4.04 GAA, .872 SV%) each saw pretournament action.
NHL PARTICIPATION IN WORLD CUP
A total of 169 NHLers, representing all 30 teams, comprise the 184 players participating in the World Cup.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Team Russia captain Alex Ovechkin(31) and Team North America forward Auston Matthews(19) celebrate their birthdays Saturday in advance of playing their first World Cup games Sunday.
PLAYER- AND PUCK-TRACKING AT WORLD CUP
Player- and puck-tracking will be used during all games for the World Cup and incorporated into the broadcasts by both ESPN and Sportsnet.
Seven hundred pucks designed for tracking - depicted below - were manufactured for the tournament. Fans are able to keep these pucks if they exit the playing surface.

REMINDER: WORLD CUP OFFICIALS
The World Cup officiating crew is comprised of seven NHL referees and seven NHL linesmen. All tournament games will be officiated by two NHL referees and two NHL linesmen.
Referees:Gord Dwyer, Eric Furlatt, Chris Lee, Wes McCauley, Dan O'Halloran, Dan O'Rourke and Kelly Sutherland
Linesmen:Derek Amell, Michel Cormier, Shane Heyer, Steve Miller, Brian Murphy, Jonny Murray and Pierre Racicot
THE KILLERS ROCK OPENING NIGHT OF FAN VILLAGE . . .
Global rock band The Killers - who were joined by players from all eight participating teams as well as Canadian rockers Sam Roberts Band and singer/songwriter Daya - christened the Scotiabank World Cup of Hockey Fan Village Friday with the Pepsi World Cup of Hockey Premiere Party.

. . . A SNAPSHOT OF SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE
The Scotiabank World Cup of Hockey Fan Village is open today from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

A snapshot of Saturday's schedule includes:
* An appearance by Team North America and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly
* Former NHL greats Theo Fleury, Adam Graves, Todd Harvey and Mike Weaver
* A viewing party for the Team Canada-Team Czech Republic game at 8 p.m
* Hockey skills challenges and attractions, including the first-of-its-kind Molson Canadian Human Bubble Hockey three-on-three experience
Visit
WCH2016.com/fanvillage
for complete details.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Leon Draisaitl(EUR), Matt Duchene (CAN), Aaron Ekblad (NAT), Jakub Voracek (CZE) and Blake Wheeler(USA) penned their latest blogs for
WCH2016.com
. . . The CN Tower lit up in celebration of the start of the World Cup. . .

The 3D TORONTO sign also
will display tournament colors
throughout the opening week . . . Check out the sites and sounds of the days leading up to the World Cup, including Media Day and pre-tournament games . . .

Canadian hockey legend Paul Henderson and Toronto mayor John Toryunveiled the trophy for the World Cup, designed by world-renowned architect and Toronto native Frank Gehry.