COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today named the first 18 players to its U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Moscow, Russia, April 27-May 13.
“We’ve got a good mix of players with World Championship experience and younger players who will likely be a part of our program for years to come,” said Jim Johannson, senior director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “Our National Team Advisory Group has done an outstanding job in selecting players who we feel will excel in international competition.”
DU alum Paul Stastny was selected to the team after a sensational rookie season that saw him score 79 points for the Colorado Avalanche. Joining Stastny on the team include Avalanche teammate Tyler Arnason and the Carolina Hurricanes John Grahame who grew up in Denver.
Team USA will play an exhibition game against Sweden in Stockholm on April 25 before beginning competition in the IIHF World Championship on April 27 against Austria. The United States will play two additional preliminary-round games against Belarus (April 29) and the Czech Republic (May 1) before the qualification round begins.
NOTES: Additional players will be named to the U.S. roster in the coming days … Grahame was a member of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team that competed at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy … The average age of the first 18 players named to Team USA is 25.1 years old … Mike Sullivan, former head coach of the NHL’s Boston Bruins and an assistant coach with the 2006 U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team, was named head coach of the 2007 U.S. Men’s National Team on March 26. Barry Smith, head coach and director of hockey operations with SKA St. Petersburg of the Russian Elite League, will serve as associate head coach of Team USA, while David Quinn, associate head coach for the Boston University men’s ice hockey team, will serve as assistant coach.
Team USA 2007 IIHF World Championship Schedule
Moscow, Russia • April 27-May 13
Date Opponent Location/Arena Time (EDT)
April 25 Sweden* Stockholm 1:00 p.m.
April 27 Austria Arena Mytischi 8:15 a.m.
April 29 Belarus Arena Mytischi 12:15 p.m.
May 1 Czech Republic Arena Mytischi 12:15 p.m.
May 3-7 Qualif. Round Arena Mytischi TBD
May 9-10 Quarterfinals Arena Khodynka TBD
May 12 Semifinals Arena Khodynka 7:15 a.m./11:15 a.m.
May 13 Bronze-Medal Game Arena Khodynka 8:15 a.m.
Gold-Medal Game Arena Khodynka 12:15 p.m.
*exhibition game
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