DETROIT – The summers for Jimmy Howard and Justin Abdelkader won’t begin just yet.
The two will play for Team USA at the World Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden, which begins in early May, according to Wings general manager Ken Holland.
It’s the first time for Howard and Abdelkader will participate in the tournament.
Other Wings confirmed playing for their countries are Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen and Jonathan Ericsson for Sweden; Jakub Kindl for the Czech Republic; Tomas Tatar for Slovakia.
Holland said he also believes Valtteri Filppula will play for Finland.
“It’s an opportunity to play another month of hockey,” Holland said.
