Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off includes 3 Lightning forwards

Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel, both of the Tampa Bay Lightning, were among 17 players named to Team Canada’s roster for the four-nation face-off announced Wednesday.

Jon Cooper, the Lightning coach, is the coach of Team Canada.

The best-on-best tournament, featuring teams made up of NHL players from Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States, will take place February 12-20, with games February 12-15 at the Bell Center in Montreal and at TD Garden in Boston February 17-20.

Point, Cirelli and Hagel are part of a strong group of forwards that also includes Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.

MacKinnon is one of three forwards from Nova Scotia on the roster, along with Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby Crosby.

“It’s great that we’re getting closer. We’re all really excited about that,” Marchand said. “Of course we have to concentrate on the job and the task at hand now, but the closer we get, the more excitement increases. It will be an incredible tournament to be a part of. Going forward with the boys from home will be evenly balanced.” “Every time you get to put on the Canadian jersey and be part of something like that, it’s really a great honor.”

McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, Marchand and Point were the first five forwards named to the team in June, along with defenseman Cale Makar.

In addition to Cirelli, Hagel and Reinhart, these five forwards are also joined by Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers, Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes, Travis Konecny ​​​​of the Philadelphia Flyers, Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights.

“It’s going to be crazy. All four teams are well positioned,” said Marner. “It’s going to be a great tournament with a lot of people watching and I’m definitely excited and very honored to have the privilege to do this.”

Makar will be joined on defense by Avalanche teammate Devon Toews, Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore of the Golden Knights, Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues and Travis Sanheim of the Flyers.

“I was completely surprised,” Konecny ​​said. “I had known for a while that there had been some speculation that I might be involved and I never really paid attention to it because I really didn’t believe it was really that big of an opportunity.

“But for me and ‘Sanny’ it’s a great experience that we can have together. Playing for your country at any time is something special that you don’t take for granted, so I’m looking forward to it.”

The three goaltenders added to Canada’s roster were Jordan Binnington of the Blues, Sam Montembeault, the Montreal Canadiens’ lone selection on the team, and Adin Hill, giving the Golden Knights four players on the roster.