These Calgary Flames are playing in the world hockey championship
Calgary Flames' Rasmus Andersson, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Mikael Backlund during second period NHL hockey action against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Calgary on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is kicking off in Sweden and Denmark on Friday and a handful of Calgary Flames are there to represent their country.
Five Flames are currently on rosters at the tournament, along with head coach Ryan Huska, who is an assistant coach for Team Canada.
Defenceman Mackenzie Weegar is donning the maple leaf, representing Canada.
He finished the 2024-25 season tied for third in points on the Flames, notching eight goals and 39 assists for 47 points.
Forward Mikael Backlund and defender Rasmus Andersson are representing their home country of Sweden. Andersson was named the team's captain, while Backlund is an assistant.
Backlund finished the year with 15 goals and 17 assists. Andersson had 11 goals and 20 assists in 81 games but noted he was playing through a broken fibula down the stretch of the year.
Goaltender Dan Vladar also made the trip for the tournament to join Czechia's roster.
He started between the pipes in 29 games last year, winning 12, with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage.
2023 first-round pick Samuel Honzek was also selected to play for Slovakia.
The 20-year-old forward suited up in five games with the Flames last season but spent most of the year with the Calgary Wranglers in the AHL, putting up eight goals and 13 assists.
Zayne Parekh, the Flames' 2024 ninth-overall pick, joined Team Canada for their pre-tournament games, but was not included on the roster for the preliminary round.
The puck drop for Canada's first game against Slovakia is scheduled for 4:20 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Sweden takes on Slovakia at 12:20 p.m. on Friday, while Czechia faced off against Switzerland on Friday morning.
Canada is in Group A for the preliminary stage, along with Austria, Finland, France, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
TSN is carrying every game of the world hockey championship, taking place in Stockholm, Sweden; and Herning, Denmark.
Visit the tournament's website for the full schedule.
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