Corey Crawford finally gets just due as World Cup goalie for Team Canada

March 03--Over the last few years, Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford has won two Stanley Cups, but he hasn't received much individual recognition.

For instance, he did not participate on Team Canada in the 2014 Olympics and he was snubbed from this season's NHL All-Star Game despite having better numbers than the two Central Division goaltenders who made it.

But that changed Wednesday as Crawford was named one of Team Canada's two goaltenders for this year's World Cup of Hockeyin Toronto over two weeks in September while the Hawks will be in training camp in Chicago.

"Honestly, he's one of those guys who has deserved to be at that level for a long time," captain Jonathan Toews said.

Toews will join Crawford on Team Canada, as will defenseman Duncan Keith and coach Joel Quenneville, who will serve as an assistant to Mike Babcock.

"I don't know if a lot of people think (Crawford) is good because of our team, but all of us in this room know that our team is good because of him," Toews said.

The Hawks dot the rosters of six of the eight World Cup teams. Preliminary rosters of 16 for each were announced Wednesday.

Patrick Kane will represent the Hawks on Team USA, center Teuvo Teravainen will play for Finland, defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson will play for Sweden, while winger Artemi Panarin and center Artem Anisimov will play for Russia.

Marian Hossa was named to the Team Europe roster, which is comprised of European players not from Finland, Russia, Sweden or the Czech Republic. The only two teams without any Hawks are Team Czech Republic and Team North America, which contains players from the United States and Canada who are 23 or younger.

Former Hawk Brandon Saad made the cut for that team, for which general manger Stan Bowman serves as assistant general manager.

Defenseman Brent Seabrook and center Marcus Kruger could make the final rosters for Team Canada and Team Sweden, respectively, once final rosters are announced.

Quenneville said he was honored to be a part of Team Canada's coaching staff and said the tournament should not affect how the Hawks prepare for next season.

"It's a privilege (to) get a chance to play in a great environment, on a very competitive stage," Quenneville said. "It's a short tournament, so it has to be exciting for these guys to represent their countries. It's the best players in the world."