The puck drops on tournament play at the World Cup of Hockey on Saturday, September 17.
The 2016 instalment of the World Cup will see 184 of the best players from across the globe descend on Toronto for a two week tournament that is shaping up to showcase more speed and skill than any international contest that’s come before.
From the number of Stanley Cup rings represented on World Cup rosters to the career totals that remind us Joe Thornton has been doing this for a long, long time, here is a look at the World Cup by the numbers.
0 – The combined NHL games played by Team North America’s Auston Matthews and Team Finland’s Patrik Laine, the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the 2016 NHL Draft.
1 – The total number of Ottawa Senators named to World Cup rosters. Erik Karlsson represents Sweden.
6’1.5” – The average height of players participating in the tournament.
8 – Both the number of teams participating in the World Cup and the number of countries represented on Team Europe.
11 – 11 of the 184 players in this year’s tournament competed at the 2004 World Cup.
12 – The Tampa Bay Lightning lead all NHL teams with 12 players competing in the World Cup.
14 – The number of officials who will work the tournament, seven referees and seven linesmen.
15 – Team Canada boasts 15 Stanley Cup rings among its players, the most of any squad.
21 – The most points by a player in a single Canada Cup/World Cup tournament. Wayne Gretzky totalled three goals and 18 assists in nine games in the 1987 Canada Cup.
22.2 – The average age of Team North America’s under-23 squad, the youngest team in the tournament.
27.6 – The average age of all players participating in the World Cup.
30.3 – The average age Team Europe, the oldest bunch in the tournament.
48 – The total number of Stanley Cup rings among World Cup participants.
59 – Henrik Lundqvist’s career NHL shutout total, the most among participating goaltenders.
184 – The grand total of players participating.
374 – Lundqvist’s career NHL wins, also the most among World Cup netminders.
525 – Alex Ovechkin’s career NHL goals total, the most among players participating in the World Cup.
654 – The combined total of NHL goals scored by Team North America skaters.
1,341 – Joe Thornton’s career point total, the most among players who will skate in the World Cup.
1,367 – Joe Thornton’s career NHL games total, also the most among World Cup skaters.
1996 – The first World Cup of Hockey was held in August and September of 1996. The United States defeated Canada 2-1 in a best-of-three series.
2004 – The second World Cup was staged in 2004, with Canada dropping Finland 3-2 in a one-game final in Toronto.
3,662 – The combined total of NHL goals scored by members of Team Canada.
15,877 – The total career games of NHL experience by officials working the World Cup.
72,837 – The total career games played by all players representing their countries in the 2016 World Cup.
!!!!! – The speed at which Team North America appeared to reach in its 4-0 win over Team Europe in its pre-tournament opener Thursday.
