Defenseman John Klingberg and forward Antoine Roussel will play at the 2017 World Championship, which gets underway next month in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany, the Dallas Stars announced on Tuesday.
Three other players in the Dallas system - defenseman Julius Honka and forwards Roope Hintz and Valeri Nichushkin - are under consideration as well.
Roussel, who will play for France, will be making his fifth appearance at the Worlds. The only question surrounding his playing in the tournament was a thumb injury that kept him out the final 18 games of the season for the Stars. But he's healthy now and will get to play in a tournament that will be held in his native France.
"It is important. I grew up not wanting to play in the NHL but wanting to play for Team France. That was doable," Roussel said. "When I started playing hockey in 1992, it was just after the Olympics in Albertville. I think that is why my parents started me playing hockey. Maybe more events like this will bring more French players to the big leagues."
Klingberg, Roussel to play at World Championship
Honka, Hintz and Nichushkin also under consideration to play at tournament in France and Germany