Tage Thompson, Matty Beniers highlight USA’s initial roster for 2025 World Championship

Several of the top American-born players are set to represent their country next month.

On Thursday, USA Hockey released its initial roster for the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship. It features a plethora of big names from the NHL, as well as a young collegiate star between the pipes.

“We really like our team,” Jeff Kealty, Team USA general manager and assistant general manager of the Nashville Predators, said in a release. “We have a group with significant international experience and I know our players are excited about representing our country on the world stage and competing for a gold medal.”

11 of the 18 players have previously played for the U.S. at the Men’s Worlds, including Conor Garland (Vancouver Canucks), Clayton Keller (Utah Hockey Club) and Brady Skjei (Predators), who are entering their third Men’s World Championship appearances.

Another third-timer, Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson looks to add more hardware to his collection. The Orange, Connecticut native has won four medals playing for Team USA, winning gold at the 2015 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship and 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. He’s also been on the teams that won the nation’s last two bronze medals at the Men’s Worlds (2018, 2021).

Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier is the only other player on the current roster to have won that many IIHF medals. The former Boston College star won gold at the World Juniors in 2024, winning bronze at the 2023 WJC and silver at the 2022 U-18s.

There’s a lot of international experience heading overseas, with all but two selections having played in at least one IIHF world championship. Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei and Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord will be donning the red, white and blue for the first time.

Daccord is part of a solid goaltending trio that includes Bruins backstop Jeremy Swayman and Los Angeles Kings prospect Hampton Slukynsky. Slukynsky’s coming off an incredible freshman season at Western Michigan that saw him help the program win its first NCAA Championship earlier this month. Slukynsky also backed up Detroit Red Wings draft pick Trey Augustine when the U.S. won its second straight World Junior gold medal in January.

Other notable names include former Michigan Wolverines Matty Beniers (Kraken) and Frank Nazar III (Chicago Blackhawks).

The Americans will be coached by San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky. They will be playing in Group B, which begins play in Herning, Denmark in just a couple of weeks. They will be playing the hosts in their first game on May 9. The U.S. finished fifth in last year’s tournament in Czechia.

For the full initial roster, click here