USA to defend world championships gold medal with vastly different teamThe United States will enter this year’s men’s hockey world championships in an unusual position: defending champion. Team USA won a gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation tournament last spring for the first time since 1933. This year’s team has only two returnees and will be less star-studded than the 2025 one The big exception is Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and U. S. Olympian.
Some of the players from last year aren’t available because they were or are in the playoffs, such as Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller, Jackson Lacombe, Cutter Gauthier and Jeremy Swayman. Plus, there’s no Olympics as an incentive to suit up. Here is the Team USA roster and some takeaways:1 / 45NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
The NHL is announcing the finalists for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who is in the running (listed alphabetically):team USA world championships preliminary rosterGoaltendersDefensemenForwardsRyker Lee, Michigan StateDanny Nelson, Notre DameMax Plante, Minnesota-DuluthMatthew Tkachuk, PanthersTeam USA roster takeawaysHoward and Lohrei are the only returnees from last year. Leonard and Hagens made up two-thirds of the top line for the gold medal-winning USA team at the 2025 world junior championships.
The third linemate, Gabriel Perreault isn’t at this tournament. Howard and Plante are the last two winners of the Hobey Baker and where are the world championshps? The tournament will be held from May 15 to 31 in Fribourg and Zurich, Switzerland.
team USA world championships preliminary round scheduleall times ETMay 15: vs. Switzerland 2:20 p.m. May 17: vs. Great Britain, 6:20 a.m. May 18: vs. Finland, 10:20 a.m. May 20: vs. Germany, 2:20 p.m. May 23: vs. Latvia, 6:20 a.m. May 25: vs. Hungary, 10:20 a.m. May 26: vs. Austria, 10:20 a.m. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA world championships team has different look as it defends gold
