2016 World Cup of Hockey groups and pre-tournament schedules announced

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey debuts in less than a year, and the NHL finally announced the groups on Wednesday along with a slew of pre-tournament information.

When the preliminary round begins on Sept. 17, Team Canada and Team USA will both play in Group A. It is the first time the two nations have been grouped together in such a large tournament since the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. That year both played for the gold medal.

Here are the two groups:

Group A

Team Canada

Team Czech Republic

Team Europe

Team USA

Group B

Team Finland

Team North America

Team Russia

Team Sweden

Each of the eight teams participating in the tournament will run training camps in their own countries and regions starting on September 4. Team USA's camp will be held in Columbus in the Blue Jackets' Nationwide Arena, while Team Canada will hold camp in the Ottawa Senators' Canadian Tire Centre. The two regional teams, North America and Europe, will split time between Montreal and Quebec City.

Only Team Russia's location was listed as TBD.

The slate of 12 pre-tournament games will run from Sept. 8-14. Each nation will play three pre-tournament games. The full schedule is as follows:

Thursday, September 8

Team Czech Republic vs. Team Russia - Ice Palace; St. Petersburg
Start time TBD - TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Sweden vs. Team Finland - Hartwall Arena; Helsinki
Noon ET/7 p.m. local - TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Europe vs. Team North America - Videotron Centre; Quebec City
8 p.m. ET - ESPN2, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Friday, September 9

Team Canada vs. Team USA - Nationwide Arena; Columbus
7 p.m. ET - TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Saturday, September 10
Team Russia vs. Team Czech Republic - O2 Arena; Prague
10:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. local - TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Finland vs. Team Sweden - Scandinavium; Gothenburg
Noon ET/6 p.m. local - TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team USA vs. Team Canada - Canadian Tire Centre; Ottawa
7 p.m. ET - Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TBD

Sunday, September 11
Team Europe vs. Team North America - Bell Centre; Montreal
6 p.m. ET - Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TBD

Tuesday, September 13
Team Finland vs. Team USA - Verizon Center; Washington, DC
7 p.m. ET - ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Wednesday, September 14
Team Czech Republic vs. Team North America - CONSOL Energy Center; Pittsburgh
3:30 p.m. ET - TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Team Sweden vs. Team Europe - Verizon Center; Washington, DC
7 p.m. ET - TBD, Sportsnet, TVA Sports 2

Team Canada vs. Team Russia - CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh
7:30 p.m. ET - ESPN2, Sportsnet, TVA Sports