2016 World Cup: Mats Zuccarello Named to Team Europe

The Rangers' leading scorer, Mats Zuccarello, has been named to the roster of Team Europe for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Zuccarello will be the only Norwegian-born player on Team Europe's roster which is not surprising considering that he is just one of two Norwegians in the league along with Andreas Martinsen of the Colorado Avalanche.

Team Europe will feature a pan-European roster of players from birth
countries outside of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden. Seven
countries are represented among the 16 players selected today.

Named to Team Europe are: (country of birth in parentheses)

G Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks (Denmark)
G Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders (Slovakia)

D Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins (Slovakia)
D Roman Josi, Nashville Predators (Switzerland)
D Dennis Seidenberg, Boston Bruins (Germany)
D Andrej Sekera, Edmonton Oilers (Slovakia)
D Mark Streit, Philadelphia Flyers (Switzerland)

F Mikkel Boedker, Colorado Avalanche (Denmark)
F Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (Germany)
F Jannik Hansen, Vancouver Canucks (Denmark)
F Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks (Slovakia)
F Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings (Slovenia)
F Frans Nielsen, New York Islanders (Denmark)
F Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings (Slovakia)
F Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild (Austria)
F Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers (Norway)

#NYR Mats Zuccarello was named to the first 16 players in Team Europe for the World Cup. He was unsure if he'd be picked last week.

— Brett Cyrgalis (@BrettCyrgalis) March 2, 2016

Sign me up for a line with Zuccarello and Kopitar. The other winger could be Oscar the Grouch for all I care. Or maybe Fozzie Bear. He'd likely make a better hockey player than Oscar.

The other teams' official announcement schedule is below, we might see some more Rangers named to this tournament yet.

Team North America: 5:15 p.m.

Team Canada: 6:05 p.m.

Team USA: 6:45 p.m. (this will be broadcasted on ESPN)