Training camp, exhibitions
Each team will have a 10-day training camp that includes three exhibition games before the World Cup of Hockey opens Aug. 30.
Germany, Russia, Solvakia and Sweden opened camp Aug. 19; Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland and the U.S. opened Aug. 20.
The exhibition schedule:
| Date | Teams | Site |
| Sun., Aug. 22 | Russia vs. Germany | Cologne, Germany |
| Sun., Aug. 22 | Sweden vs. Slovakia | Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Mon., Aug. 23 | Finland vs. Czech Republic | Prague, Czech Rep. |
| Mon., Aug. 23 | Canada vs. USA | Columbus, Ohio |
| Wed., Aug. 25 | USA vs. Canada | Ottawa |
| Wed., Aug. 25 | Finland vs. Sweden | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Wed., Aug. 25 | Czech Republic vs. Germany | Cologne, Germany |
| Thu., Aug. 26 | Germany vs. Finland | Helsinki, Finland |
| Fri., Aug. 27 | Sweden vs. Czech Republic | Praque, Czech Rep. |
| Fri., Aug. 27 | Russia vs. USA | Columbus, Ohio |
| Sat., Aug. 28 | Slovakia vs. Canada | Ottawa |
| Sun., Aug. 29 | Russia vs. Solvakia | Ottawa |
History
The United States defeated Canada to win the first World Cup of Hockey in 1996. After losing the first game of the best-of-three championhip series 4-3 in overtime, Team USA swept two games in Montreal (both by the score of 5-2).
Mike Richter, who finished the tournament with a 5-1 record and 2.43 GAA, was named MVP. Brett Hull was the leading scorer with 11 points (seven goals, four assists in seven games).
| 1996 World Cup of Hockey standings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| United States | 6 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 18 | 12 |
| Canada | 5 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 26 | 10 |
| Sweden | 3 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 6 |
| Russia | 2 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 4 |
| Finland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 16 | 4 |
| Germany | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 2 |
| Slovakia | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 0 |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 0 |