Anchorage's Dubinsky named to Team USA for World Cup of Hockey

Anchorage's Brandon Dubinsky, the veteran NHL center whose game combines useful skill and ample grit, on Friday was named to Team USA for the elite World Cup of Hockey.

Dubinsky, 30, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets, is among 13 forwards on Team USA's 23-man roster for the eight-team tournament that will feature most of the world's best players. The World Cup of Hockey is set for Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto.

Dubinsky has twice represented USA Hockey at the World Championships. That tournament takes place at the same time as the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs and thus often misses out on some of the world's most elite players. So, being selected to Team USA for the World Cup — Columbus head coach John Tortorella is bench boss for the Americans — represents the pinnacle of Dubinsky's international career.

"I'm humbled to be in that type of company, on such an elite roster," Dubinsky said by cellphone from Boston, where he's visiting his in-laws. "I've got to believe my play spoke for itself, and maybe a little extra push (from Tortorella) helped."

Dubinsky said Tortorella previously told him he wanted Dubinsky, who he also coached with the New York Rangers early in Dubinsky's NHL career, on the World Cup club. He said he found out he made the team Thursday, when he received calls from Tortorella and Team USA management.

After being considered, but not selected, for the 2010 and 2014 U.S. Olympic teams, Dubinsky said he was not sure he would make the cut for the World Cup.

"You never know. You hope for the best," he said. "For me, having received calls for the 2010 and 2014 Olympic teams and told I was close, but not close enough, you just never know.

"If it doesn't happen, you've got three extra weeks to get ready for (NHL) training camp. It it does, that's amazing."

Dubinsky will be one of two Alaska connections in the World Cup. Former UAF defenseman Colton Parayko, 23, who is coming off a terrific rookie season with the NHL's St. Louis Blues, on Friday was named to Team North America, a collection of players 23 and younger.

Given that Team USA's forward ranks include high-end talents like NHL leading scorer Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, Joe Pavelski of the Stanley Cup Final-bound San Jose Sharks and Zach Parise of the Minnesota Wild, Dubinsky expects he'll be tasked with wearing down opponents. The 6-foot-1, 216-pounder is at his best when he pounds, irritates and frustrates opponents — Dubinsky, as they say, has a lot of sandpaper in his game.

"I've got to imagine I'm going to put myself into a checking role, kill some penalties and take face-offs," Dubinsky said. "Obviously, I believe in my offensive abilities and hope to chip in on that side."

Dubinsky skated for Team USA at the World Championships in 2008 and 2010, scoring six goals and seven assists in a combined 10 games.

Last season for Columbus, Dubinsky delivered 17-31–48 totals in 75 games. He twice has scored 20 goals or more in an NHL season and twice notched 50 or more points in a season. His 129-238–367 totals in 620 career NHL regular-season games makes him the second-most prolific scorer among Alaskans who have played in the world's best league, trailing only two-time Stanley Cup winner Scott Gomez of Anchorage.

Dubinsky is one of six Alaskan men who have represented the U.S. at the world championships, Olympics or World Cup.

Gomez played in one World Cup and one Olympics. Retired NHL goaltender Ty Conklin of Anchorage played in two world championships and was on one World Cup team. Current NHL defenseman Matt Carle of Anchorage once played in the world championships and current NHL center Nate Thompson of Anchorage has played in two world championships. Also, former NHL winger Joey Crabb of Anchorage, who most recently played in Europe, has skated in one world championship.

Dubinsky, Gomez, Thompson and Crabb all played for their hometown Alaska Aces of the ECHL in the 2012-13 season before the NHL lockout ended.

Dubinsky said he was honored to be named to the World Cup team at 30, as he hits his veteran years.

"In normal years, I'm still fairly young," he said. "In hockey years, I've been around a while."