Jonathan Toews with a No. 16 on the back of his sweater, Patrick Kane with an 'A' sewn on the front of her and Corey Crawford with a maple leaf painted on his mask are things for which double takes are made.
Always steeped in history Blackhawks Jersey as key components of several Stanley Cup championship teams, the trio - with seven other Hawks - is to direct his attention to play for the pride of the country rather than pride in Indian head at the hockey world Cup which runs Saturday to October 1 in Toronto.
The tournament, concocted by the NHL and its Players' Association to meet the challenges of the international game, will feature eight teams - Canada, USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, North America (consisting of top 23- and- NHL young players of the continent) and a European team All-Star.
Crawford Toews and Kane represent Canada and the US Artem Anisimov Hawks teammates and Artemi Panarin Jersey will play for Russia, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Marcus Kruger for Sweden, Marian Hossa for Europe Michal Kempny for the Czech Republic and for Ville Pokka Finland.
