Marc and Laura pick apart the All Blacks squad and ask what a new rectangular stadium in Auckland might mean for the Blackcaps.
Nolan Yonkman won't be jumping off any buildings when he lands in Auckland for next month's Ice Hockey Classic.
After all, he'll be here to check bodies into the boards as he leads Team Canada in the ice hockey showcase series against the United States.
The former NHL defenceman will captain the Canadian squad in the three-match classic fresh of a successful season in Europe. Speaking to Puck Yeah, Yonkman said while he wouldn't be indulging in bungee jumping, he was looking forward to showing Kiwis what ice hockey was all about.
"All the guys are going to want to bring it," Yonkman said. "I've gone twice now and won both cups, so I've got to keep that going."
"I think it's going to be good," Yonkman said. "I know guys look at the roster and go 'hey, we don't have the Sidney Crosby's, we don't have the [Connor] McDavid's, we don't have all that kind of stuff' but I think it's still going to be a great representation of what hockey is.
"We're coming to entertain, and we're still professionals. We're still playing against each other – Canada versus USA – and I don't want people to think in any means that this is anything staged.
"We have fun out there, but we're still very competitive."
Nolan Yonkman played for the Florida Panthers in the NHL between 2011 and 2013. Photo / Getty Images.
Yonkman and Holland will be among a handful of player taking to the ice in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown next month, with Team USA captained by Zenon Konopka, 37, who played more than 300 games in the League.
"A lot of us have seen the NHL and may be a little bit older like myself but we still want to bring that competitive, very entertaining game because our pride's on the line," Yonkman said.
The full rosters were due to be announced over the coming weeks and the Herald understands Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Ian Cole is expected to suit up for Team USA.
Ice Hockey Classic New Zealand dates: June 22 – Spark Arena, Auckland June 23 – Westpac stadium, Wellington June 28 – Queenstown Ice Arena, Queenstown (Sold out)
