U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland unveil 1st 6 players for 4 Nations Face-Off tournament

Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon have never played together for Team Canada. Same for Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk for Team USA.

That will change next year at the 4 Nations Face-Off, an international tournament that will also feature Finland and Sweden. All four countries named their first six players for the NHL-run event scheduled for February in Montreal and Boston. It will be a precursor to the 2026 Milan Olympics, which will mark the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014.

“It’ll be good preparation,” said Crosby, a two-time Olympic champion with Canada. “The fact that they’re close together, I think that helps and I think with that being fresh in people’s minds and when they get to see this event and then follow it up with the Olympics, there’s a lot to be excited about.”

USA Hockey chose Matthews, Eichel, Tkachuk and defensemen Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy and Adam Fox. Hockey Canada went with the obvious three — Crosby, McDavid and MacKinnon — along with Cale Makar, Brad Marchand and Brayden Point.

“These first six possess an immense amount of talent and will serve as a solid core for our team,” U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said Friday.

More announcements are ahead. Each of the four teams can have 23 NHL players, including three goaltenders.

“I think it’s going to be extremely competitive,” Matthews said. “Best on best is something that guys have really been kind of wanting for a while. I think it’s just great for the game.”

Guerin, who is the Minnesota Wild GM, has a good problem to have in goal choosing among Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettinger, Thatcher Demko and Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.

Canada has to figure out who will stop the puck a decade after Carey Price backstopped the country to Olympic gold in Sochi.

“There's going to be tough decisions at every position, and goaltending obviously is one that’s always going to be under the microscope for any team but especially with it being Canada and with Carey having been there previously,” Crosby said. “He’s a guy that’s not easily replaceable, but I think there’s a lot of guys capable of doing that.”

Scoring should not be a problem.

"These are six world-class players and leaders on their NHL teams that we can build a strong and successful team around,” said GM Don Sweeney, who runs the NHL's Boston Bruins. “Sidney, Nathan, Cale, Brad, Connor and Brayden have been successful at various levels of their professional and international careers, and we look forward to all six being key contributors to our team as we look to win on the international stage next season.”

Finland, the defending Olympic champion from 2022 when the league canceled plans to send players because of pandemic-related scheduling issues, headlined its initial roster with Aleksander Barkov, who's fresh off captaining the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup. He is joined by fellow centers Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho, goaltender Juuse Saros and defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell.

Sweden opened with forwards Mika Zibanejad, William Nylander and Filip Forsberg plus defensemen Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson and Gustav Forsling, who also just hoisted the Cup with Barkov and Tkachuk.

“It’s a very big deal and I’m very proud of it,” Forsling said about the 4 Nations nod. “It’s very surreal to be honest. Even the last week here, it’s been very emotional and it’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s nothing I take for granted. Something I've been working very hard for over the last couple of years here. just very honored.”

AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow in Las Vegas contributed.

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Florida Panthers NHL hockey player Matthew Tkachuk celebrates with the Stanley Cup in the Atlantic Ocean in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Monday night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes stands with the James Norris Memorial Trophy at hockey's NHL Awards, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/L.E. Baskow)

Auston Matthews arrives for hockey's NHL Awards, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/L.E. Baskow)

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon stands with his trophies as the recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy, left, and Ted Lindsay Award at hockey's NHL Awards, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/L.E. Baskow)

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid celebrates the team's win over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling kisses his wife Daniela as he places his five-month-old son Bo on the Stanley Cup trophy, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Oilers 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

FILE - Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid is congratulated by Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon, left to right, Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews after winning the NHL All-Star hockey skills competition in Toronto, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon have never played together internationally for Canada. Same for Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk with the U.S. That is finally set to change next year at the 4 Nations Face-Off, an international tournament precursor to the 2026 Milan Olympics that marks the return of NHL players to that world stage.(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

LONDON (AP) — Millions of voters in Britain are going to the polls Thursday to choose a new House of Commons and a new government.

Voters will elect 650 lawmakers representing as many constituencies, or local areas, and the leader of the party that returns the most lawmakers will become prime minister.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the main opposition party, the left-of-center Labour, after 14 years in power under five different prime ministers.

The Conservatives and Labour traditionally dominate British politics under the U.K.’s “first past the post” electoral system, which makes it difficult for smaller parties to win representation in Parliament.

But also in the running are the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Scottish National Party and the Greens, among others.

Here's a look at the parties, who's leading them and what they are promising:

Who's their leader? Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Sunak, 44, came to power in October 2022 when he inherited a Conservative Party and an economy in turmoil after Liz Truss's short-lived premiership. The Oxford graduate and former Goldman Sachs hedge fund manager is Britain's first leader of color and the first Hindu to become prime minister. Sunak has stressed he is the man who steadied the ship, but critics say he lacks political judgement and is out of touch with ordinary voters.

How many seats did they win in the last election? 365

What are they promising? Delivering a stronger economy and cutting taxes by some 17 billion pounds per year. Increasing public health spending above inflation, and boosting defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. The party says this will be paid for by savings on tax evasion and slashing welfare spending. The party also pledges to cap immigration numbers and remove some asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

Who's their leader? Keir Starmer.

The 61-year-old lawyer, a former chief prosecutor for England and Wales, is the current favorite to be Britain's next leader. A centrist and pragmatist, Starmer has worked hard to steer his party away from the more overtly socialist policies of former leader Jeremy Corbyn and quelled internal divisions. Critics call him unexciting and unambitious, but Labour has surged in popularity under his leadership.

How many seats did they win in the last election? 202

What are they promising? Promoting “wealth creation," encouraging investment and improving Britain's infrastructure like railways under a 10-year infrastructure strategy. Setting up a state-owned clean power company to boost energy security, paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. Taxing private schools to pay for thousands of new teachers in state schools. Cutting record-high public health waiting times.

Who’s their leader? Ed Davey.

Davey, 58, was first elected to Parliament in 1997. The former economics researcher served as the government's energy and climate change secretary under an uneasy Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition from 2012 to 2015. Davey became leader of the left-of-center Lib Dems in 2019 and was not a household name until this election, when he made headlines with multiple zany stunts — including bungee-jumping to urge voters to take “a leap of faith.”

How many seats did they win in the last election? 11

What are they promising? Improving Britain’s overstretched health and social care systems, including introducing free nursing care at home. Investing in renewable energy and home insulation. Clamping down on sewage-dumping water companies. Lowering the voting age to 16. Rejoining the European Union’s single market.

Who’s their leader? Nigel Farage.

Farage, a political firebrand who takes pride in being the disruptor in British politics, has posed a serious headache to the Conservatives since he announced he is running in the election. The 60-year-old populist has long divided opinion with his anti-migrant rhetoric and Euroskeptic stance. A key proponent of Brexit, Farage is capturing many disillusioned Conservative voters with his promises to cut immigration and focus on “British values.” Farage previously ran for Parliament seven times but never won.

How many seats did they win in the last election? None — though the party gained its first lawmaker this year when ex-Conservative Party deputy chair Lee Anderson defected to Reform.

What are they promising? Freezing all “nonessential immigration” and barring international students from bringing their dependents with them. Leaving the European Convention on Human Rights so that asylum-seekers can be deported without interventions from rights courts. Scrapping “net zero” goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to bring down energy bills.

Who’s their leader? John Swinney.

Swinney, 60, became the SNP’s third leader in just over a year in May. The politician has sought to bring stability to the party, which has been in turmoil since Scotland's long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon abruptly stepped down last year during a campaign finance investigation that eventually led to criminal charges against her husband. Swinney has long served the party: he joined its ranks at 15 years old, and previously led the party from 2000 to 2004.

How many seats did they win in the last election? 48

What are they promising? Swinney has said that if his party wins a majority of seats in Scotland he will try to open Scottish independence negotiations with the London-based U.K. government. He wants to rejoin the European Union and the European single market. He also called for boosting public health funding, scrapping the U.K.’s Scotland-based nuclear deterrent, and an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Who’s their leader? Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.

Denyer, a mechanical engineer, worked in wind energy before she joined the Greens in 2011. The 38-year-old served as a local politician for the southwestern English city of Bristol for nine years. In 2021 she was elected co-leader of the Greens along with Ramsay, also a local government politician who has experience working with environmental charities.

How many seats did they win in the last election? 1

What are they promising? Phasing out nuclear power and getting the U.K. to net zero by 2040. The Greens have pledged 24 billion pounds a year to insulate homes and 40 billion pounds a year invested in the green economy, to be paid for by a carbon tax, a new wealth tax on the very rich and an income tax hike for millions of higher earners.

FILE - Green Party co-leaders Adrian Ramsay, right, and Carla Denyer pose with supporters at their General Election Manifesto launch in Hove, England, on June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay speaks at their General Election Manifesto launch in Hove, East Sussex, England, on June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay smiles at the General Election Manifesto launch in Hove, East Sussex, England, on June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

FILE - Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer poseS with supporters at their General Election Manifesto launch in Hove, England, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer holds up a manifesto as she speaks at their General Election Manifesto launch in Hove, East Sussex, England, on June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Scottish First Minister and Scottish National Party leader John Swinney arrives at York University, York, England, on June 20, 2024. (Stefan Rousseau/Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Scottish First Minister and Scottish National Party leader John Swinney speaks during the party's General Election manifesto launch at Patina in Edinburgh, Scotland, on June 19, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Ed Davey poses for the media after he is announced as the new Liberal Democrat Leader, in London, on Aug. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey, attends the General Election campaign in Carshalton, London, on June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - Nigel Farage, former leader of the Brexit Party and leader of the populist Reform UK party, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Md., on Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Nigel Farage, former leader of the Brexit Party and leader of the populist Reform UK party, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Md., on Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Nigel Farage, former leader of the Brexit Party and leader of the populist Reform UK party, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, on March 3, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Nigel Farage, former leader of the Brexit Party and leader of the populist Reform UK party, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Md., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

FILE - Nigel Farage, former leader of the Brexit Party and leader of the populist Reform UK party, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, on March 3, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

FILE - Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, delivers a speech at a business conference in London, on Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Britain's Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks to the media during an election campaign stop near Milton Keynes, England, on July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

FILE - Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, smiles during a business conference in London, on Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Britain's Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer speaks during the Labour Party Conference at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, England, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Britain's Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks to a media outlet during an election campaign stop near Milton Keynes, England, on July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a Conservative general election campaign event, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on June 24, 2024. (Phil Noble/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a news conference in Berlin, Germany, on April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

FILE - Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street in London, on May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks on during his visit to Nuneaton Cricket Club as he campaigns in Nuneaton, England, on July 1, 2024. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP, File)

File - Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a news conference in Berlin, Germany, on April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)