Washington Capitals wing Alex Ovechkin and Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will lead Russia in the world ice hockey championship starting in Minsk, Belarus, on Friday. Just seven players, including captain Ovechkin, have survived from the squad that lost to Finland in the Sochi Olympic quarterfinals. One notable absentee was former New Jersey Devils wing Ilya Kovalchuk, now playing for SKA St. Petersburg, who was injured. Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Anton Khudobin was on track to play at his first worlds after a breakout NHL season saw him post a save percentage of .926, fifth best in the league. Only NHL players whose teams have been eliminated from the playoffs were eligible for the squad announced on Tuesday by the Russian Hockey Federation, but more players can be added later on. The worlds are the first major competition for new Russia coach Oleg Znarok. He has been tasked with reviving the team after it failed to win a medal at Sochi. Russia is to play Switzerland, Finland, the United States, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Germany and Belarus in the group stage. The squad includes 26 names, one more than the maximum allowed by the International Ice Hockey Federation for the championship. Of the 26, eight play in the NHL, with the remaining 16 all drawn from the Kontinental Hockey League. That included defenceman Anton Belov, who left the Edmonton Oilers for Russian team SKA. Among the other NHL players named were Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov and wing Evgeny Kuznetsov, who at 21 was the youngest on the team. ------ Russia: Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevsky, Anton Khudobin, Anton Belov, Denis Denisov, Nikita Zaitsev, Andrei Zubarev, Alexander Kutuzov, Evgeny Medvedev, Dmitry Orlov, Maxim Chudinov, Egor Yakovlev, Artem Anisimov, Alexander Burmistrov, Evgeny Dadonov, Danis Zaripov, Ilya Zubov, Sergei Kalinin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nikolai Kulemin, Andrei Loktionov, Alex Ovechkin, Sergei Plotnikov, Viktor Tikhonov, Vadim Shipachev, Sergei Shirokov. Axel Witsel Belgium Jersey . Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. Thibaut Courtois Belgium Jersey . Here at TSN.ca we will take a look back at the season by bringing together a panel of experts to help pick the best 50 players of the season. http://www.soccerbelgiumfansshop.com/Nacer-Chadli-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ .Y. -- In a span of three days, Shabazz Napier and Connecticut knocked out both Philadelphia schools in the NCAA tournament. Simon Mignolet Belgium Jersey . Miralem Pjanic dribbled through the defence to score an extraordinary goal in the 43rd minute at the Stadio Olimpico and Gervinho added another from a rebound in the 65th for Romas ninth straight victory — ending Milans five-match winning streak. Dedryck Boyata Jersey . Dwyane Wade followed a few days later.MIAMI - LeBron James of the Miami Heat says Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant would be a deserving winner of the NBA MVP award. Its expected that Durant will be announced as this seasons MVP later this week. James has lauded Durants play this season several times in rrecent weeks, doing so again on Monday.dddddddddddd James says: "Much respect to him and he deserves it. He had a big-time MVP season." James is a four-time winner of the leagues MVP award, taking the honour in each of the previous two seasons. Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '