ST. LOUIS — Team Canada will have a noticeable Blues representation when they take the ice in May for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.
Hockey Canada named its initial roster on Thursday and Blues forwards Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz along with defensemen Colton Parayko, Joel Edmundson and Vince Dunn all were invited and accepted invitations to participate among the initial 18 named to the roster.
The World Championship will take place May 4-20 and Blues coach Mike Yeo will be Canada's associate coach and Blues assistant general manager Martin Brodeur will serve as Canada's co-GM.
Schenn initially said he wasn't sure on planning on participating but will join his Blues teammates after leading them in points this season with 70 (28 goals, 42 assists).
Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo would have been a shoe-in for Canada's roster but said Tuesday at locker cleanout day he would not. He and his wife Jayne are expecting triplets in July and has more pressing matters on a personal level.
The Blues missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.
The rest of Canada's initial roster includes: goalie Darcy Kuemper (Arizona); defensemen Thomas Chabot (Ottawa), Aaron Ekblad (Florida), Darnell Nurse (Edmonton) and Ryan Pulock (New York Islanders); and forwards Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier and Jordan Eberle (all of the New York Islanders), Bo Horvat Vancouver), Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton), Ryan O’Reilly (Buffalo) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (Ottawa).
* Small percentage of Blues going up for sale -- When Tom Stillman and his ownership group bought the Blues in May of 2012 from Sports Capital Holdings and former owner Dave Checketts, there was a small minority interest that SCH still held onto.
On Thursday, the Blues announced that that portion, which is unspecified, will soon market that interest for sale.
A sale of this minority stake will result in a complete exit of SCH and the Blues’ former majority owners from any interest in the Blues, as contemplated in the original acquisition by the current, Stillman-led ownership group. The current ownership group will remain in place with Stillman as chairman and governor and retaining control of the Blues.
"It is important to understand that the Blues are not for sale," Stillman said in a statement released by the team. "Only a minority interest in the club will be sold, and the new investors will become part of our ownership group. Control of the Blues will remain in local hands, and it will be business as usual, both on and off the ice. We are committed to finding investors who share our passion for the Blues, for our community, and for bringing a Stanley Cup to St. Louis."
Stillman and Blues management will work jointly with SCH on the sales effort, and Galatioto Sports Partners will serve as the financial advisor.
Any sale will require the approval of the Blues and the NHL.
(4-13-18) BLUES NOTEBOOK
Five Blues to represent Canada at World Championship; percentage of team going up for sale By LOU KORAC ST. LOUIS -- Team Canada will have a noticeable Blues representation when they take the ice in May for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.
