There was a moment a couple of weeks ago when Maple Leafs teammates James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Rielly mulled over the rosters for the World Cup of Hockey.

They’ll be opponents when it starts. Van Riemsdyk now a stalwart on Team USA and Rielly for the all-star team of 23-and-under young guns called Team North America.

“Just looking at all the teams in the tournament, there are no gimmes,” said van Riemsdyk. “Every game is going to be a tough one. Going through the (young guns) roster with Morgan Rielly, they’ve got a lot of high-end players. You wouldn’t be surprised no matter who came out of the groups.

“The competition is high, the playing field is going to be level and you’re going to have to bring it every night.”

As the World Cup of Hockey reboots after a 12-year layoff, the Maple Leafs have nine players spread over seven teams and their coach, Mike Babcock running the eighth, Team Canada. (Goalie Frederik Andersen was named to the Europe team but suffered an injury in an Olympic qualifier on Friday. His status is uncertain.)

So it looks like at least one Leaf is coming out a champion.

“We’re fortunate we have that many players in the tournament,” said Babcock. “It will be fun for all of them. It’s a real opportunity to grow and develop.”

The most intriguing team features two Leafs: Rielly and top pick Auston Matthews on Team North America, a group no older than 23 as of Oct. 1.

“We think we have a team that can go in and upset some teams,” said Rielly. “We’re looking forward to the challenge. We’re a young group with lots of talent that is highly motivated. We’re going to go in there and try to shock some people. We’re not expecting any kind of special treatment.

“We’re going in there trying to win the tournament.”

For Matthews, it will be his first action since being drafted and signing with the Maple Leafs.

“It’s definitely going to be an adjustment for me,” said Matthews. “It’s going to be a much faster pace of play, physical, so for me I just want to learn and get better each day.”

Matthews has already represented the United States at the senior level, at the world championships in Russia. This will be his first time at the Air Canada Centre. Back in 2014-15, his Team USA failed to make it out of Montreal for the playoff rounds in Toronto at the world junior championships.

“It’s great for Auston,” said Babcock. “I don’t know what his role will be. I just know he’ll get better every day of the tournament.”

Canada is the only one of the eight teams without a Leaf player, but the Leafs are well represented with Babcock behind the bench, Andrew Brewer on video and Brian Papineau in charge of equipment. While training camps are elsewhere, every tournament game will be played at the Air Canada Centre while the Maple Leafs head to Halifax for training camp.

“Playing in this city, it makes it extra special that a tournament like this is here,” said van Riemsdyk.

When the very first Canada Cup was played, in 1976, Maple Leafs captain Darryl Sittler parlayed a fantastic tournament that included a Golden Goal into the best NHL season of his career. Rielly doesn’t figure anyone in this tournament will have an advantage when the puck drops in October on the 100th NHL season.

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“Training camp is pretty tough on its own,” said Rielly. “That’s two weeks of good team workouts every day. You’re not going to get a big advantage.

“It will be a nice little experience,” Rielly added. “We’ll be looking forward to getting back to camp and joining our teams. I’m pretty lucky I get to do both. I don’t think it’s going to create a big advantage.”

LEAFS AT WORLD CUP

Canada: Head coach Mike Babcock, video coach Andrew Brewer, equipment manager Brian Papineau

Czech: F Milan Michalek, D Roman Polak

Europe: G Frederik Andersen (injured)

Finland: F Leo Komarov

North America: F Auston Matthews, D Morgan Rielly

Russia: D Nikita Zaitsev

Sweden: G Jhonas Enroth

USA: F James van Riemsdyk

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