By USA Hockey , 05/20/22, 10:30AM EDT
The 2022 IIHF Men's World Championship is taking place May 13-29, 2022, in Tampere & Helsinki, Finland. Follow along Team USA's journey with exclusive, inside access through our daily notebook.
Van Halen released its song Jump in December of 1983 and it had a five-week run as the No. 1 single in the U.S. in early 1984. It is Van Halen’s top hit ever and is regularly heard in arenas around the country.
The Jump Around is part of tradition at Camp Randall Stadium during a Wisconsin Badgers home football game. For nearly the last quarter century, fans simply jump up and down to the song Jump Around between the third and fourth quarters.
And then there’s the Thomas Bordeleau jump. The routine here in Tampere … Bordeleau is among those first out of the lockerroom in advance of each game and to start each period, and hangs out at the “back of the line.” When Kieffer Bellows comes out of the lockerroom, he comes over to Bordeleau for a chest bump. Shortly before the team begins its walk to the ice, Bordeleau goes from a standing position and leaps with both feet straight up into the air. He does it just once and then he’s off.
It’s the newest version of Jump and something Bordeleau says he’s been doing for just a couple of years.
As the team hit the ice for the start of its 11:15 a.m. practice today, the first order of business was to take the team photo. Steve Poirier coordinated the logistics for photographer Andre Ringuette from the IIHF, and Team USA’s Dave Fischer arranged the players and staff. Following the photo, several group pictures were snapped, including captains, coaches, goaltenders and the three Ivy Leaguers on the squad, among others.
Forward John Hayden makes the sign of the cross each time he enters the ice in acknowledgment of his Christian faith. Hayden was raised Presbyterian, with his mom Presbyterian and dad Catholic. He participates in a regular bible study with approximately 10 of his Buffalo Sabres’ teammates on a regular basis.
5 – Favorite Pizza Toppings Buffalo Chicken, Pepperoni, Eggplant, BBQ Chicken, Extra Cheese
4 – Favorite Musicians Kid Rock, Chris Stapleton, Jamie Johnson, AC/DC
3 – Words That Best Describe You Easy-Going, Happy, Humorous
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Seoul, South Korea, Australia
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Matthew McConaughey
Kieffer Bellows scored a pair of power play goals in the third period and Jeremy Swayman recorded a shutout in his debut at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship as the U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Great Britain, 3-0.
“We got the three points and that’s the important thing,” said David Quinn, head coach of Team USA. “Our special teams were good and I especially liked what we did in the final two periods.”
The U.S. outshot Great Britain, 38-17 and Bellows was named the U.S. Player of the Game.
After taking yesterday off, Team USA was back on the ice for a practice in preparation for its game tomorrow afternoon against Great Britain. Defenseman Jon Merrill from the Minnesota Wild arrived late last night and was on the ice for practice today, which began at 10 a.m. The team utilized the practice arena for the very first time, which is located by elevator or stairs just one floor below the competition ice at Nokia Arena. The players got dressed and walked with their skates to get down one floor to the practice ice surface.
U.S. general manager Ryan Martin and John Vanbiesbrouck, part of Team USA’s management staff and also assistant executive director at USA Hockey, observed practice. Martin, who is assistant general manager of the NHL’s New York Rangers, arrived yesterday in Finland and is here for the duration of the tournament. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman from the Boston Bruins will be arriving late tonight.
U.S. alternate captain and defensemen Nate Schmidt, who is making his international debut in the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship, was mic’d up for practice today and USA Hockey content director Andrew Ketterer had plenty of material to work with in building a fun piece for fans to enjoy. Schmidt, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., has played nine years in the NHL, including the 2021-22 season with the Winnipeg Jets. He played college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
There’s a lot that goes into the operation of a hockey team, including items and personnel needed on the bench for a game. Today we give you an up-close look and description of what goes into Team USA’s bench operation.
Team USA has four coaches that stand in the middle of the bench on a risen platform behind the players with an equipment manager and athletic trainer on either side of the coaches. The team doctor, massage therapist and an additional equipment manager are staged next to the bench for additional support.
The bench is prepped with water bottles and towels some 60 minutes before a game and the bench supply kits, stick rack, cooler and additional equipment are put in place just before the team goes out to warmup, which is usually 35-40 minutes prior to puck drop.
Bench Bag – A “bench bag” is at each end of the bench for use by Team USA’s equipment staff and features many items, including tools for repairing helmets and skates; stick wax; baby powder, which players use in their gloves to help with grip; skate laces; helmet parts; dry erase markers; a stone that is used for skate blades; gum and scissors.
Blade Cases – In the two blade cases are sharpened skate blades for each player, which can be installed in literally seconds if a player has an issue during a game. The bigger of the two boxes contains blades for the forwards, while the smaller box has blades for defensemen and goaltenders.
Carriers – At each end of the bench attached to the glass with suction cups are carriers that have stick wax, gum and tape and at times a few tools. The clear tape is used typically for socks, while the other tape is used on sticks.
Stick Rack – The stick rack typically contains two extra sticks per player and is organized in numerical order. The “blood” jersey typically hangs from the stick rack and is utilized should a player need to change their jersey during the game if it is deemed unplayable by the game officials due to blood. The cooler at the bench contains ice/ice packs.
Medical Bench Bag – The large orange bag is the “medical bench bag” and contains items needed by Team USA’s trainers on the fly during a game. Among the assorted items you’ll find are: Band-Aids, Steri-Strips, capsules of monsel solution for cuts to stop bleeding, scalpels, Q-tips, antibiotic ointment, gauze, rubber gloves, tape, various medications, assorted hydration additives for water, energy chews and bars and smelling salt.
Built-In Bench Bins – The built-in bins that are part of the benches at Nokia Arena are utilized for water bottles, dry erase boards for coaches, dry erase markers and bench towels.
5 – Favorite Pizza Toppings Pepperoni, Sausage, Peppers, Mushrooms, Pineapple
4 – Favorite Musical Artists Eric Church, Kip Moore, Blink 182, AC/DC
3 – Words That Best Describe You Hard-Working, Honest, Laid Back
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation South of France, Iceland
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Matthew McConaughey
It was back in the Fall of 2001 that Brock Bradley heard about an opening at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program as equipment manager. Armed with a civil engineering degree from his time at Clarkson University, where he served four years as a student equipment manager for the men’s hockey team, Bradley was working at an engineering firm in Albany, New York, but was not fulfilled. He was intrigued by the NTDP position and was called by Scott Monaghan on Sept. 10, 2001, to schedule a flight to Detroit for an interview.
The next day – the Twin Towers fell in New York City on a day no one will forget – 9.11.2001. Monaghan wasn’t sure when he’d be able to fly Bradley in or when he would be comfortable coming for an interview, but it ultimately happened that Friday (Sept. 14).
Bradley was hired shortly thereafter and 21 years later has helped mentor the American superstars playing in the NHL today and beyond … From Patrick Kane, Charlie McAvoy and Jack Eichel, to Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes. The list is endless and Bradley is rightfully prideful of having had the chance to play a role in the continued evolution of the sport in America.
While he has supported U.S. teams on the international stage numerous times, he’s making his first appearance with a U.S. Men’s National Team. Along with his talents serving as an equipment manager, Bradley is also a history buff, can recite random movie lines like no other and loves sharing stories of his four-year-old daughter Vivien, who is his biggest fan.
Doug Hickey, the newly installed U.S. Ambassador to Finland, was at Team USA’s game here in Tampere last night against Finland. Hickey, who was sworn in as Ambassador on April 6, had a busy day that included hosting U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, John Cornyn and John Barrasso in Helsinki as they met with Finnish president Sauli Niinistö, and then making the nearly two-hour journey to Tampere to watch Team USA.
After the game, Hickey was part of the awards ceremony on the ice and presented the U.S. Player of the Game award to Luke Hughes. The Ambassador had a brief exchange with Hughes and asked him about his nickname of Eagle.
Team USA had today completely off and will return to the ice tomorrow for a 10 a.m. practice. After getting back to its hotel after midnight last night after playing the late game against Finland, the players and staff enjoyed the chance to sleep in.
The training staff provided a two-hour window for treatments starting at 10 a.m. at the hotel. At noon, the bus took the group downtown to venture out for lunch. The players also had plans to treat the training staff to dinner in the evening.
Defensemen Jon Merrill arrives this evening to Tampere and will practice with Team USA tomorrow.
Ryan Martin, general manager of Team USA, arrived in Tampere this afternoon and will be here throughout the world championship. Martin is the assistant general manager of the New York Rangers.
John Vanbiesbrouck, part of the management team for the U.S. Men’s National Team and assistant executive director of USA Hockey, attended a luncheon hosted by Tampere dignitaries today in celebration of the IIHF Men’s World Championship.
The sauna is quite popular with Team USA’s coaching staff, both the one at the hotel and in the U.S. lockerroom.
Chris “Frosty” Scoppetto, equipment manager for Team USA and the head equipment manager for the New Jersey Devils, visited with Team Finland captain Valtteri Filppula and defenseman Sami Vatanen in the hotel lobby this afternoon. Scoppetto was part of the Detroit Red Wings training staff (along with U.S. athletic trainer Piet VanZant) in 2008 when the Wings won the Cup with Filpulla on the roster. Vatanen played for the New Jersey Devils from 2017-21. Scoppetto, who this season completed his 25th year as an NHL equipment manager, has been part of the staff of a U.S. Men’s National Team three previous times – in 2011, 2017 and 2019.
5 – Favorite Burger Toppings Swiss Cheese, Avocado, Onion Strings, Dijon Mustard, Spicy Mayo
Note: Galchenyuk was specific to start noting Bison grass fed beef on brioche bun
4 – Favorite Musicians Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, Drake, Future
3 – Favorite Sports Teams Phoenix Suns, Team USA, Team I’m Playing For
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Fiji Islands, Turks and Caicos
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Jesus
Alex Galchenyuk scored Team USA’s lone goal as the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Finland, 4-1, before a capacity crowd in preliminary round play at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
“We can’t take as many penalties as we did and expect to win,” said David Quinn, head coach of the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team. “They’re the top team in the world for a reason and full marks to them. The positive is that we had a good third period and we’ll make sure we learn from this game as we get set to continue on in the tournament.”
Click Here For Full Game Recap
Luke Hughes scored the game-winner in overtime on a breakaway as the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team scored three unanswered goals and defeated Austria, 3-2, in preliminary round play at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Kieffer Bellows and Adam Gaudette also found the back of the net for Team USA in the comeback win.
“I liked our mental toughness tonight,” said David Quinn, head coach of the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team. “We got down 2-0 and Kieffer scored a big goal right after their second goal. We had a couple big blocks on the penalty kill in overtime and I was really proud we stuck together and ultimately came away with an important win.”
Click Here For Full Game Recap
U.S. head coach David Quinn surprised the players with a day off from practice today. The group was able to sleep in, which was much appreciated by all. Team USA’s staff re-located treatment tables and supplies to the team’s hotel and the players had a two-hour window starting at 11 o’clock to get any treatments needed. The players ventured as a group downtown to explore Tampere in the early afternoon for a couple of hours and then returned for rest in advance of an early evening team meeting to prepare for tomorrow’s game against Austria.
The first-ever McDonald’s restaurant in Finland opened here in Tampere in December of 1984. The 1985 IIHF World Junior Championship – which began in late December of 1984 and finished in early January 1985 – was played in Finland that year with games in Helsinki, Turku, Espoo and Vantaa. Team USA was based in Helsinki. Art Berglund, who led USA Hockey’s international hockey program back in those days, caught wind of the new McDonald’s and canceled practice one day so the players and staff could make the journey from Helsinki to Tampere to try out the American icon. Media learned of the adventure and were present to capture the visit. Team USA also visited a Finnish glass factory on its way back to Helsinki. The 1985 U.S. National Junior Team featured U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer players Brian Leetch, Mike Richter and Craig Janney.
Team USA forward Alex Galchenyuk, who has amassed 354 points in his 10 years in the NHL, can be found with a bottle of extra virgin olive under his arm as he makes his way to team meals. Galchenyuk, who helped the U.S. to a bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF Men’s World Championship and a gold medal that same year in the IIHF World Junior Championship, puts EVOO on most things he consumes, from eggs to vegetables to bread and everything in between.
5 – Favorite Burger Toppings Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, BBQ Sauce, Crispy Onion Strings, Lettuce
4 – Favorite Musicians Kygo, Bruce Springsteen, Lumineers, Kid Cudi
3 – Words That Best Describe You Positive, Energetic, Clean
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Switzerland, Turks and Caicos
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Tom Brady
Nine U.S. skaters recorded at least a point and Seth Jones (Frisco, Texas) netted the game-winning goal to help propel the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team to a 4-1 victory over Latvia in its first of seven preliminary round games at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
“It was certainly a good way to start,” said David Quinn, head coach of the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team. “Latvia is always difficult to play against and I thought we came out ready to play. Outside of some of the third period, I liked our game. We also got really good goaltending from Strauss (Mann) and that was a key to the game.”
Click Here For Full Game Recap
It was day one on the ice at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland, for Team USA with a 2:15 p.m. practice today on the main game sheet. The facility also has a practice rink that the U.S. will utilize during the tournament.
Prior to the practice, all staff and players took their official tournament headshot and the players also filmed some green screen content that will be used by the tournament organizers, including their favorite “celly.”
After practice, the players went through the mixed zone to meet with members of the media covering the event.
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Team USA’s lockerroom at Nokia Arena for the world championship is the home lockerroom of Ilves (pronounced EE-leh-vehs) from the Finnish Elite League in Tampere, one of the oldest professional teams in Finland.
It is the nicest home the U.S. has had for a world championship, with the many amenities including a large sauna, two cold tubs, spacious dressing room and changing areas, as well as coaches, equipment and medical rooms. Nokia Arena, which officially opened on Dec. 3, 2021, is also home to Tappara from the Finnish Elite League and Team Finland is utilizing its lockerroom for the world championship.
For Thomas Bordeleau, patience has been a virtue through COVID times. The Houston, Tex., native was selected to play for the 2020 U.S. National Junior Team, but because he was deemed a close contact as the roommate of Johnny Beecher, who tested positive for COVID during Team USA’s camp in December, Bordeleau was ruled ineligible to play (despite testing negative himself for COVID). In addition, Beecher’s positive test was deemed to be a false positive, but according to IIHF protocols at the time, it didn’t matter. A year later, Bordeleau was selected for the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team, and again COVID came into play. This time, Bordeleau tested positive for COVID at Team USA’s camp in December well before the team’s departure for the tournament, and was again ruled ineligible to play by the IIHF. The old adage “third time’s a charm”comes to mind for Bordeleau as his COVID tests are all negative here in Finland and tomorrow he finally gets his chance to represent Team USA after heartbreak in both 2020 and 2021.
Dennis Beyak and Dave Tomlinson will call Team USA’s games on NHL Network in the preliminary round. Beyak recently retired as an NHL play-by-play announcer, including since 2011-12 with the Winnipeg Jets. Tomlinson played professionally both in the DEL and the NHL and he and U.S. head coach David Quinn both played college hockey at Boston University … U.S. forward Thomas Bordeleau played on a line with Team Latvia’s Rudolfs Balcers and Team Canada’s Noah Gregor at the end of the season in San Jose this year.
It’s the 25th season of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team includes 13 players who have spent some time at the NTDP. A total of eight played there full-time, including Riley Barber, Kieffer Bellows, Thomas Bordeleau, Sean Farrell, John Hayden, Luke Hughes, Caleb Jones and Seth Jones. The concept for the NTDP came from Ron DeGregorio back in the 1990s when he was the vice president of USA Hockey and chair of the international council. DeGregorio went on to serve as the organization’s president and then board chair and was enshrined into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. While the NTDP concept was that of DeGregorio, it was Jeff Jackson and Bob Mancini who were among the original architects of the program.
5 – Favorite Pizza Toppings Extra Cheese, BBQ Chicken, Prosciutto, Canned Tuna, Pepperoni
4 – Favorite Musicians Eminen, Kid Laroi, Machine Gun Kelly, Bastian Baker
3 – Words That Best Describe You Funny, Confident, Open-Minded
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Greece, Africa (and Australia too)
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Eminen
Team USA had its lone exhibition game ahead of the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship today at the Helsinki Ice Hall against Canada. The U.S. coaching staff had a chance to see all forwards and defensemen in action as well as netminders Strauss Mann and Jon Gillies, who split time in net.
Following the game, the team made the nearly two-hour bus ride from Helsinki to Tampere which is the main site for the world championship and where Team USA will play its seven preliminary round games beginning Friday against Latvia (9:20 a.m. ET/Live on NHL Network).
It was a lengthy day for the training staff, which early this morning moved the Team USA operation from Malmi Arena -- where the group practiced Sunday-Tuesday -- to the Helsinki Ice Hall in preparation for this afternoon’s exhibition game. After the contest, it was time to re-pack, load the truck and move two hours to Nokia Arena in Tampere. By the time everything was unpacked and the lockerroom set-up in Tampere, it was after midnight with a 2:15 p.m. practice on tap for tomorrow.
HELSINKI, Finland – The U.S. Men’s National Team dropped a 4-3 decision in a shootout to Canada here today in a back-and-forth affair between the two North American rivals in what was the lone exhibition game for both squads in advance of the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
“It was great to have a game before we start for real on Friday,” said David Quinn, head coach of the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team. “We like our group and we’re still learning how all the puzzle pieces fit together. Today was a good gauge and a game that had many different situations. It will help us in preparing to play Latvia here in a couple of days.”
Neither team found the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes. Ben Meyers, who played on the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, had a good look from the right faceoff circle 4:30 into the contest, but didn’t get full wood on the shot and was denied by Canada netminder Logan Thompson, who made 10 saves in the period. The U.S. had the only power play and it came in the final four minutes of the stanza. Team USA had decent zone time and perhaps its best chance came from between the circles where Sam Lafferty’s shot sailed over the net. Strauss Mann started the game in net for the U.S. and made seven saves in the period, including an important stop off the stick of Dylan Cozens in the final minute after a Canada faceoff win.
The teams traded second period goals. Riley Barber sniped one into the top corner of the net from the bottom of the left circle to stake the U.S. to a 1-0 lead just 2:59 into the stanza. Caleb Jones drew the only assist on the play.
Canada had a four-minute power play after a high-sticking call on Lafferty in the back half of the period. The U.S. didn’t allow a shot on goal in the first two minutes, but Cozens was able to get one past Jon Gillies from the left dot at 15:30 to even the contest.
Gillies, who entered the game at the 10:00 mark of the period, made a big save on Morgan Geekie’s partial break from in tight with 1:30 to play in the period to keep the game even. Canada, which had three power plays in the period to none for the U.S., had a 10-6 shots-on-goal advantage in the middle 20 minutes.
Canada took the lead just 1:04 into the third period as Cole Sillinger scored from the doorstep to the right of Gillies. The U.S. tied the game at 9:19 thanks to a Kieffer Bellows wrister from alone in front after a nice feed from Meyers. Karson Kuhlman put Team USA ahead 3-2 with 4:09 to play when he turned and put one home from just above the circles, but Canada’s Josh Anderson scored with 2:37 left in regulation to even the game. The U.S. had a power play with 2:03 remaining, but was unable to capitalize.
The teams each had a power play in the five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime, but neither was able to score. Canada won the five player shootout two goals to one, with the U.S. tally coming off the stick of Alex Galchenyuk.
Mann finished with 11 saves and did not allow a goal. Gillies made 13 saves on 16 shots.
Team USA will open play in the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship Friday (May 13) against Latvia in the first of its seven preliminary round games at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland. Opening faceoff is set for 4:20 p.m. local/9:20 a.m. ET. All Team USA games can be seen live in the U.S. on NHL Network.
NOTES: Canada outshot the U.S., 28-27 … Team USA was 0-4 on the power play, while Canada was 1-4 … Seth Jones (Frisco, Tex.) is the captain of Team USA, with Nate Schmidt (St. Cloud, Minn.) and Austin Watson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) serving as alternate captains.
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5 – Favorite Burger Toppings Cheese, bacon, tomato, mayo, lettuce
4 – Favorite Musicians Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs
3 – Words That Best Describe You Easy-Going, fun, passionate
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Alaska, Bahamas
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Michael Jordan
Team USA had its final practice here in Malmi this afternoon. After an initial 45-minute skate, the ice was re-surfaced and the U.S. worked on special teams.
Following practice, the training staff packed up the entire operation – which includes heavy trunks, large bags and assorted boxes totaling nearly 100 pieces in all -- and prepared for a move tomorrow morning to the Helsinki Ice Hall where the U.S. will play its lone exhibition game against Canada at 3 o’clock. It’s a significant undertaking and team host Risto Talvio arranged volunteers who will meet the U.S. training staff and assist with the move.
Kimmo Oikarinen from the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation paid a visit to Malmi Arena to say hello and welcome Team USA. Oikarinen and USA Hockey’s John Vanbiesbrouck visited in the lobby for a short time prior to the U.S. practice.
Team USA’s leadership group was unveiled on the ice following practice today by head coach David Quinn. Seth Jones was named captain of Team USA, while Nate Schmidt and Austin Watson were tabbed alternate captains.
Players tapped their sticks in approval as the names were read and afterwards Seth Jones took his place in the center circle to lead the team stretch.
Jones, who has played nine seasons in the NHL, is competing in his sixth international tournament for the U.S., including two previous men’s world championships. He served as captain of the gold medal-winning 2012 Under-18 Men’s National Team and as an alternate captain of the gold medal-winning 2013 U.S. National Junior Team.
Schmidt, who has played nine years in the NHL, is making his international debut, while Watson, who has represented Team USA at both the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship and IIHF World Junior Championship previously, has played eight seasons in the NHL.
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Did you know that for the fifth straight year, Finland is ranked as the happiest country in the world by the United Nations-sponsored World Happiness Report? Not only is Finland a happy place to be, but Tampere, where Team USA will play its preliminary round schedule, is dubbed the sauna capital of the world with the most public saunas of any city on the planet.
The U.S. has medaled in four of the last eight IHF Men’s World Championships, its best stretch since winning four medals over eight world championships from 1931-47. All total, Team USA has 13 medals to its credit in the history of the IIHF Men’s World Championships with its lone gold in 1933. The U.S. also had earned silver four times (1931, 1934, 1939, 1950) and bronze eight times (1949, 1952, 1996, 2004, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2021).
5 – Favorite Pizza Toppings Extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, ham, pineapple
4 – Favorite Athletes Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Fedorov, Nick Lidstrom
3 – Words That Best Describe You Funny, empathetic, light-Hearted
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Paris, Rome
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Gordie Howe
The breakfast buffet at the hotel opened at 6:30 a.m. and forward Jaycob Megna, who woke up at 3:30 a.m. and came down to the lobby to read, was the first player in the hotel restaurant. Team leader Brij Singh, team host Risto Talvio and equipment manager Brock Bradley were also among the early takers of morning nourishment. The rest of the group trickled in at various times and a few players didn’t quite arrive in time for the 10 a.m. end of breakfast hours. Team USA is still adapting to the time zone difference (seven hours ahead of ET in the U.S.).
While sunrise was officially 4:54 a.m. in Helsinki today, it was light around 3:45 a.m. And while the sun sets around 9:40 p.m., it’s still light out until 11 p.m.
Team USA had a 1:30 p.m. practice today at Malmi Arena where penalty killing was a key focus. Assistant coach Jeff Blashill is handling the penalty kill unit for Team USA and went through specifics with the players at a brief team meeting in the team hotel just prior to the team departing for Malmi.
After two days of practice, John Vanbiesbrouck, who heads USA Hockey’s international hockey operations as assistant executive director for USA Hockey, is excited about what he’s seen on the ice to date.
“I really like our group. They’re very quick, persistent and talented. It’s a team that will play fast and will be hard to play against and that should serve us well in the world championship.”
Goaltender Strauss Mann, along with forwards Vinni Lettieri and Alex Galchenyuk, were the last off the ice today. Galchenyuk has 354 regular-season NHL points (146G, 208A), the most of any player on Team USA. He was the third overall pick of the 2012 NHL Draft.
Seth Jones, the fourth overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, is not far behind with 337 regular-season NHL points (70G, 267A).
Team USA’s roster includes 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. Seth Jones, who was one of three NHL players initially named to the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team before the NHL pulled the plug on participation, has the most international experience of anyone on the roster. Jones is playing in his sixth IIHF event for the U.S. and third IIHF Men’s World Championship. He has been part of three gold-medal teams (2013 World Juniors, 2011 & 2012 U18 Men’s Worlds) and one bronze medal squad (2015 Men’s Worlds).
Throughout the world championship journey, you’ll have a chance to learn a bit more about members of Team USA outside their accomplishments on the ice through our exclusive 5-4-3-2-1 feature.
5 – Favorite Pizza Toppings Pepperoni, green pepper, chicken, parmesan cheese, pesto
4 – Favorite Athletes Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter
3 – Favorite Movies American Gangster, For Love of the Game, Godfather
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Florida, Bahamas
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Kobe Bryant
The 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team arrived in Helsinki, Finland, just after 10:30 a.m. today. The group was greeted by Risto Talvio, who has served as team host for U.S. teams in Finland since 1984. Yes, you read that right. It’s close to a 40-year run for Talvio whose role is to work with the host organization to help ensure the logistics related to Team USA’s stay in Finland for the world championship are managed in a timely fashion.
The players and staff departed Chicago at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday for a non-stop transatlantic flight to Helsinki. The training staff largely arrived in the Windy City on Friday with the players and coaching staff coming in from all parts of the U.S. on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in advance of the flight to Finland.
The eight-and-a-half hour flight included dinner and breakfast and the reviews on the food were quite positive. The group passed the time watching movies, playing games, sleeping, reading and getting to know each other as the collection of 24 players includes top athletes from all parts of the country and plenty who have not played together before.
The arrival process at Helsinki international airport was quick and seamless and resulted in the U.S. getting to its headquarters hotel an hour ahead of schedule.
Team USA is practicing at Malmi Arena through Tuesday, a three-sheet facility mainly used for youth and adult ice hockey. Each of the three ice sheets is 200x90. Malmi is one of Helsinski’s 60 neighborhoods and about a 25-minute drive from the team’s headquarters in the Helsinski city center.
The U.S. had a brief team meeting at its hotel where head coach David Quinn covered a few tactical topics and also told the group that effort and attitude will go a long way in helping Team USA to its ultimate goal of capturing a gold medal.
The U.S. practice – which kicked off at 4:45 p.m. – was a spirited and snappy session that lasted just less than an hour and had a good deal of pace.
Team USA is fortunate to have an experienced training staff that includes equipment managers Chris “Frosty” Scoppetto from the New Jersey Devils, along with USA Hockey’s Scott Aldrich and Brock Bradley; athletic trainers Piet VanZant from the Detroit Red Wings and Hall of Famer Stan Wong; and massage therapist Peewee Willmann. The group went immediately to the rink upon landing in Helsinki to prep the lockerroom in advance of the team arrival and remained after practice to get ready for tomorrow’s 1:15 p.m. skate. The training staff ultimately got back to the hotel after 8 o’clock for a bite to eat and some shut eye.
The team bus with players and coaches arrived back at the hotel just before 7 o’clock and all enjoyed dinner with the Carolina-Boston NHL playoff game playing in the team meal room. Good-natured conversation permeated an upbeat atmosphere, despite a long travel day. Eventually, attendance dwindled as both players and staff headed back to their rooms for some much-needed rest.
The U.S. begins play in the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship Friday (May 13), facing Latvia in its first preliminary round game. Team USA will play all seven of its preliminary round games at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland, which is also the site of two quarterfinals, both semifinals and the medal games. NHL Network will televise all Team USA games live. The U.S. has one exhibition game in advance of the tournament and that comes Wednesday (May 11) against Canada at the Helsinki Ice Hall. Faceoff is set for 3 p.m. and there is no television/streaming coverage available.
If you’re wondering about the COVID protocol …. the IIHF Men’s World Championship requires a negative PCR Covid test 48 hours prior to arriving for all credentialed personnel and all are also required to take an antigen test prior to formally entering the tournament on May 12. In addition, the country of Finland requires proof of vaccination for entry.
Throughout the world championship journey, you’ll have a chance to learn a bit more about members of Team USA outside their accomplishments on the ice through our exclusive 5-4-3-2-1 feature. We start with Team USA netminder Strauss Mann, who was also a member of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team.
5 – Favorite Burger Toppings Fried egg, bacon, pickles, caramelized onions, special sauce
4 – Favorite Athletes Henrik Lundqvist, Tom Brady, Bruce Lee, Francisco Lindor
3 – Words That Best Describe You Dialed, curious, purposeful
2 – Places You’d Like To Vacation Thailand, Croatia
1 – Person You’d Like To Have Dinner With Alan Watts
Tag(s): Men's World Championship Home 2022 Men's Worlds