The eagerly-anticipated tournament is due to underway tomorrow and conclude on October 1 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Negotiations between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the NHL and Pyeongchang 2018 are ongoing but little progress has been made.

Organisers are keen to have NHL players representing their country at the Olympics in the South Korean resort – something which the World Cup of Hockey will have in abundance.

Around 170 competitors from the NHL, one of the world’s highest-grossing sporting events, are set to participate in the two-week tournament in the Canadian city.

Reigning Olympic gold medallists and hosts Canada come into the competition as the favourites for glory, with Sidney Crosby, who led the country to glory at Sochi 2014, due to captain the side.

"That's the one thing about playing for Canada, and I learned it when I was 16 years old when this all started," forward Ryan Getzlaf, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks, said.

"No matter what tournament we're going to, we expect to win and want to win. 

"I've never been satisfied with silver or bronze or anything like that.

"That doesn't mean that we win every time we go, but that's what we want, and anything less is a failure for us."

The Canadians will get their pursuit of a successful World Cup of Hockey title defence - they won the event when it was last staged in 2004 - up and running with a clash against the Czech Republic tomorrow.

In the other Group A contest, the United States do battle with Team Europe.

Those nations in Group B will have to wait until Sunday (September 18) to get their campaigns underway, with Sweden scheduled to face Russia.

Team North America, featuring players aged 23 and under, are in action against Finland.

"We have a lot to prove," United States forward Max Pacioretty said.

"We haven't had the results internationally that we'd like to have the last couple of tries.

"Canada has a target on its back.

"They're the team that on paper is the measuring stick for everyone."