Teams representing the U.S., Sweden and Finland will "play in a pair of exhibition games at Verizon Center next September in advance of the resumption of the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto later that month," according to Zac Boyer of the WASHINGTON TIMES. The U.S. will face Finland on Sept. 13, and Sweden will take on Team Europe on Sept. 14. DC will be "one of three U.S. cities," including Pittsburgh and Columbus, to "host exhibition games leading up to the event, which will take place from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1." The teams could all also "use Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the Capitals’ practice facility in Arlington, for their practices." Verizon Center Senior VP & GM David Touhey said that the NHL "asked for cities interested in hosting the exhibition games to volunteer over the summer." Capitals Assistant GM & Dir of Legal Affairs Don Fishman said, "USA was a natural fit, and then we went hard after Sweden, too, because we’ve got Nick Backstrom" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/17). In DC, Isabelle Khurshudyan wrote Capitals full-season account members who have renewed their full-season plans for the '16-17 season "will have the first opportunity to buy ticket packages" for the exhibition games. All World Cup practices at Kettler Capitals Iceplex "will be free and open to the public" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/16). In Pittsburgh, Dave Molinari notes there "will be a pair of World Cup of Hockey exhibition games" Sept. 14 at Consol Energy Center. Team North America, consisting of players 23 and younger from the U.S. and Canada, will face the Czech Republic, and the "second half of the doubleheader" will pit Canada versus Russia. All four squads "will practice in Western Pennsylvania, either at Consol Energy Center or the Penguins' practice rink in Cranberry, during the week of the games" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/17).
