Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will join teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the 2018 IIHF World Championship tournament in May, the centreman told reporters Sunday.
“Going to World Championships is not where you want to be playing in May. But ultimately, it’s so special to represent your country,” McDavid said Sunday, according to Paul Gazzola of EdmontonOilers.com.
The 21-year-old suited up for Canada at the 2016 World Championship tourney, winning a gold medal while amassing nine points through 10 games for the red and white. He’s represented his country three other times as well— twice at the World Juniors (winning another gold and posting a combined 15 points through 14 games) and once at the World U18 Championship (another gold medal performance, featuring eight goals and 14 points through seven games).
“We won a gold medal in Russia and I have great memories from that,” McDavid added, according to Gazzola. “Those are times that you won’t forget.”
McDavid is fresh off his second straight Art Ross Trophy-winning campaign, having put up 41 goals and 108 points for an Oilers squad that failed to return to the post-season after a banner 2016-17 campaign.
While Nugent-Hopkins is set to make the trip as well, the most intriguing combination for the Canadian squad will likely be McDavid and 2017-18 Calder Trophy favourite Mathew Barzal, who used his own elite speed and playmaking ability to amass 85 points for the Islanders this season.
Also heading over for the Canadians will be McDavid’s former teammate (and Barzal’s current linemate) Jordan Eberle, Islanders defender Ryan Pulock, Sabres centreman Ryan O’Reilly, and Senators blue-liner Thomas Chabot.
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