Team North America to have two anthems played prior to World Cup of Hockey games

Team North America to have two anthems played prior to World Cup of Hockey games | iNFOnews.ca
Team North America forwards Jonathan Drouin of Canada, left, and Auston Matthews, of the United States, stretch during their World Cup hockey practice, Wednesday, September 7, 2016 in Montreal. Team North America will have both the Canadian and American national anthems played in pre-game ceremonies at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey tournament.The announcement from the NHL and NHLPA on Wednesday night comes a day before Team North America plays its pre-tournament opener against Team Europe in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

TORONTO – Team North America will have both the Canadian and American national anthems played in pre-game ceremonies at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey tournament.

The announcement from the NHL and NHLPA on Wednesday night comes a day before Team North America plays its pre-tournament opener against Team Europe in Quebec City.

Team Europe, however, won’t have any anthem played prior to their games.

“Participants from Team Europe were strongly of the view that notwithstanding their commitment to work together as a team toward a common objective in this tournament, their passion and loyalty for their own respective homelands and anthems made any surrogate musical tribute somewhat artificial and therefore unnecessary,” a release said.

The World Cup of Hockey officially gets underway on Sept. 17 in Toronto.

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