World Cup Set to Begin with Preds Going for Gold

For the last 10 days, the best hockey players in the world have represented their countries on a grand stage. And now - finally - bragging rights are on the line.
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey officially begins on Saturday after an exhibition schedule that has already seen plenty of action in and around the crease, as well as some international hostilities.
Six members of the Nashville Predators organization will now vie for gold at the World Cup at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, which will culminate with a best-of-three final at the end of the month.

Forward Filip Forsberg, defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Roman Josi, and goaltender Pekka Rinne are all representing their countries, with Forsberg and Ekholm skating for Sweden, Rinne with Finland and Josi joining Team Europe in the eight-team tournament. Predators Assistant General Manager Paul Fenton is also involved as a director of player personnel for Team North America, while Preds Assistant Coach Phil Housley is an assistant under John Tortorella and Team USA.
Every game involving Preds representatives over the next two weeks can be seen on either ESPN or ESPN2, with a full schedule below.