According to Stephen Whyno of the Canadian Press on Tuesday, Sean Monahan of the Calgary Flames will play for team Canada at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Minsk, Belarus. The tournament is more than two weeks and takes place from May 9-25.
Monahan is not the only Flame who will participate in the tournament. Mikael Backlund will be playing for Sweden and Jiri Hudler will be playing for the Czech Republic.
Hudler deserves high praise for deciding to play for his national team after he was controversially not selected to play for the Czech Republic at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Hudler had an excellent season with Calgary this year, leading the team with 37 assists and 54 points.
Monahan, meanwhile had 22 goals and 12 assists for 34 points in his rookie season in Calgary. He was the Flames’ first round draft pick, sixth overall in the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Flames will have the fourth overall draft pick in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
According to TSN, Monahan will be joined up front on team Canada with David Perron of the Edmonton Oilers, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward of the Washington Capitals, Cody Hodgson of the Buffalo Sabres, Mark Schiefele of the Winnipeg Jets and Kyle Turris of the Ottawa Senators.
Canada’s defense includes Kevin Bieksa and Jason Garrison of the Vancouver Canucks, Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators, Erik Gudbranson of the Florida Panthers, Marc Methot of the Ottawa Senators and Morgan Reilly of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs’ goaltender James Reimer is the only puck stopper so far. Canada’s first game of the tournament is against France on May 9.
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