By USA Hockey, 05/07/25, 2:00PM EDT
The 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship will take place from May 9–25, 2025, in Herning, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden. Scroll for an inside look at Team USA's journey—from the start of camp in Düsseldorf, Germany, all the way through the team's final moments at this year's tournament.
Team USA enjoyed a meal out together this evening, dining at Brdr. Price, a steakhouse in the heart of downtown Herning. The restaurant, which is a French-inspired brasserie, had high ceilings and a cozy environment.
The Herning Golf Club is just more than two kilometers from the team’s headquarters hotel (five-minute drive, 20-minute walk). It includes an 18-hole course and also a nine-hole par three track. A number of players enjoyed the nine-hole course after practice the last couple of days. The weather has been 60 degrees and sunny since Team USA’s arrival on Monday.
“You can be demanding, but not demeaning” … That is guidance from U.S. assistant coach Mike Vellucci to today’s up-and-coming coaches and a principle that has guided him throughout his 30-plus year coaching career. Vellucci had just retired from his playing days and got the opportunity to run the Compuware Arena in Oak Park, Michigan, back in 1994. Shortly into his new job, he was asked about being the Compuware Ambassadors coach in the NAHL. He ran one practice, was hired right after, and thus a coaching career was born. He went on to spend 12 years as head coach and general manager of the Plymouth Whalers. He moved to the NHL in 2014-15 where he served as assistant general manager/director of hockey operations for the Carolina Hurricanes for five campaigns, and during his final season, he was also the head coach of the AHL's Charlotte Checkers. After one season as general manager and head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Vellucci moved to the Steel City and has been an assistant coach for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins since 2020-21. “Just be honest with the players,” says Vellucci. “Be a good communicator and always do what’s best for your players and the team.”
Denmark tests its national emergency warning system, including sirens and mobile phone alerts, the first Wednesday of May each year. That happened today as Team USA was boarding its bus to practice. Team USA was once again at the practice rink and spent 55 minutes in preparation for its upcoming world championship opener on Friday against Denmark .. U.S. goaltending coach Thomas Speer shoveled the slot, behind the net and goal crease at both ends of the ice during breaks in practice today and pushed all the ice shavings into the back of the nets. He then expanded his ice maintenance efforts to the other non-neutral zone portions of the ice. Speer is the goaltending coach for the San Jose Sharks … The U.S. roster includes one Olympian in Matty Beniers (2022) and two members of the U.S. men’s entry in the Youth Olympic Games in Cutter Gauthier and Isaac Howard … Competition never ends for Team USA, and that was on full display today after practice in the lounge outside Team USA’s dressing room where players were competing in air hockey and foosball. The competition moved to the golf course as following dinner it was cards.
Throughout the IIHF Men’s World Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re simply calling, “This or That.” Today, it’s Drew O’Connor from the Vancouver Canucks, who played collegiately at Dartmouth College and is competing in his second IIHF Men’s World Championship.
East Coast or West Coast -> East Coast
Hot Dog or Hamburger -> Hamburger
Country or Rock -> Country
Ranch or Blue Cheese -> Ranch
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee -> Iced Coffee
Sports Car or Truck -> Sports Car
Soda or Pop -> Soda
Bags or Cornhole -> Cornhole (but both)
Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce -> Travis Kelce
Jeans or Sweats -> Sweats
Tennis Shoes or Sneakers -> Sneakers
Super Bowl or World Series -> Super Bowl
4th of July or Memorial Day -> 4th of July
Takeout or Dine-in -> Dine-in
Skiing or Snowboarding -> Skiing
Cream Cheese or Butter (on a bagel) -> Cream Cheese
Apple Pie or Chocolate Chip Cookies -> Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes -> Tom Brady
Team USA had its initial practice here in Herning late this morning at KVIK Hockey Arena, which is the practice arena being used for the tournament. The players got dressed at Jyske Boxen Bank, the main competition rink, and carried skates, sticks and helmets with them on the bus for the 12-minute journey to KVIK. The U.S. had a 50-minute up-tempo skate, including work on special teams. The U.S. Women’s National Team played at KVIK in the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship, where it earned a silver medal.
Team USA defenseman Brady Skjei’s wife’s sister is engaged to Carolina Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen, who is from Herning. Skjei was with family in Herning last summer to visit Andersen and will be back next summer for the wedding. Skjei has the most NHL experience of any player part of Team USA, having competed in 691 regular-season games over 10 NHL campaigns. He was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers.
It was a beautiful 60-degree sunny day in Herning today. Some staff opted to enjoy the 35-minute walk from the rink to the hotel after practice, a journey that takes you on a trail through a wooded area of the city … The U.S., Germany and Switzerland are all staying at the same hotel in Herning … Steve Cash will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic/Paralympic Hall of Fame in July it was announced today by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Cash, a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, starred on the world stage for the U.S. National Sled Team for 16 years. He is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist and five-time world champion … Jeff Camelio has been the head equipment manager for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken since the team’s inaugural campaign in 2021-22. Previously, he spent 15 seasons as assistant equipment manager under Pete Rogers with the NHL’s Nashville Predators. And for the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, the U.S. has the good fortune of having the duo re-united as the equipment managers of Team USA … Herning is a city of more than 55,000 people and has grown from 44,437 in 2006.
Throughout the IIHF Men’s World Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re simply calling, “This or That.” Today, it’s Andrew Peeke from the Boston Bruins, who played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame and is playing in his second IIHF Men’s World Championship.
East Coast or West Coast -> East Coast
Hot Dog or Hamburger -> Hamburger
Country or Rock -> Country
Ranch or Blue Cheese -> Ranch
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee -> Iced Coffee
Sports Car or Truck -> Sports Car
Soda or Pop -> Soda
Bags or Cornhole -> Cornhole
Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce -> Neither
Jeans or Sweats -> Sweats
Tennis Shoes or Sneakers -> Sneakers
Super Bowl or World Series -> Super Bowl
4th of July or Memorial Day -> 4th of July
Takeout or Dine-in -> Dine-in
Skiing or Snowboarding -> Skiing
Cream Cheese or Butter (on a bagel) -> Cream Cheese
Apple Pie or Chocolate Chip Cookies -> Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes -> Tom Brady
The activity today centered around moving team operations from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Herning, Denmark, where Team USA will join Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Kazakhstan and Czechia for preliminary round play in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship. The U.S. and Germany traveled together on a flight from Cologne, Germany, to Billund Airport in Denmark, which is about a 40-minute journey to the Herning city center. A look at Team USA’s schedule today is below.
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:30 a.m. Depart via charter bus to Cologne airport
8:50 a.m. Arrive at Cologne airport
10:10 a.m. Flight departs Cologne
11:18 a.m. Land at Billund Airport
12:02 p.m. Depart Billund Airport via coach bus for Herning
12:48 p.m. Arrive at team hotel in Herning
1:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. Training staff to rink to set-up lockerroom; back at 5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Training staff returns to rink to continue set-up
10:00 p.m. Training staff back to hotel
Peewee Willmann, who is Team USA’s massage therapist, is a native of Bavaria and lives in Hannover, Germany. Willmann has been engaged with USA Hockey teams on the international stage since 2002 when he was the massage therapist for the U.S. Men’s Select Team that played in the Deutschland Cup. He has served in a similar capacity for every U.S. Men’s National Team but two since 2009 for the IIHF Men’s World Championship. An osteopath by training, Willman has his own private practice in Hannover. He played and coached professional hockey in Germany and was also the massage therapist for the rock band Depeche Mode for two separate world tours.
Logan Cooley celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday in Dusseldorf … Jeremy Swayman, Mikey Eyssimont and Zeev Buium arrived today in Herning to meet up with Team USA and will be on the ice for practice tomorrow. Later this week, Team USA will also welcome Shane Pinto and Zach Werenski … Among the items available for Team USA’s lunch today — veal, asparagus, chicken wings, potato cakes, various salads and an apple dessert.
Sus Nielsen is the team host for the U.S. and will be with Team USA throughout the tournament to provide any type of assistance needed. She served in a similar capacity for the U.S. Women’s National Team during the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Herning and was also Team USA’s host for the 2018 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Denmark. Nielsen lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. She has served as the chair of the board of the ice hockey club in Herlev, Denmark, for the last 17 years. The club has 300 players in all, with 250 of them youth players. Nielsen is an avid golfer and is out on the course to play either nine or 18 holes most every morning at 5:30 a.m.
Welcome to the squad, gents!
Full #MensWorlds roster: https://t.co/XAKgzu7qXY pic.twitter.com/T10vo0uZxJ
Throughout the IIHF Men’s World Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re simply calling, “This or That.”
Today, it’s Logan Cooley from the Utah Hockey Club, who played collegiately at the University of Minnesota and is playing in his first IIHF Men’s World Championship.
East Coast or West Coast -> East Coast
Hot Dog or Hamburger -> Hamburger
Country or Rock -> Country
Ranch or Blue Cheese -> Ranch
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee -> Iced Coffee
Sports Car or Truck -> Sports Car
Soda or Pop -> Pop
Bags or Cornhole -> Bags
Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce -> Travis Kelce
Jeans or Sweats -> Sweats
Tennis Shoes or Sneakers -> Sneakers
Super Bowl or World Series -> Super Bowl
4th of July or Memorial Day -> 4th of July
Takeout or Dine-in -> Takeout
Skiing or Snowboarding -> Snowboarding
Cream Cheese or Butter (on a bagel) -> Cream Cheese
Apple Pie or Chocolate Chip Cookies -> Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes -> Tom Brady
The U.S. Men’s National Team, behind two goals each from Frank Nazar and Tage Thompson, bested Germany, 5-2, in its lone pre-tournament game tonight here in Dusseldorf ahead of the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship. For the full recap, click HERE.
Clayton Keller, who serves as captain of the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club, has been named captain of the U.S Men’s National Team for the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Keller is playing for the U.S. on the world stage for the sixth time, including his third IIHF Men’s World Championship (2017, 2019). He has helped Team USA to three medals, including gold in the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship and bronze (2016) and gold (2015) in the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. Brady Skjei, Tage Thompson and Conor Garland were named alternate captains. Skjei has played for the U.S. five previous times, including twice in the men’s worlds (2017, 2019). He helped the U.S. to a gold medal in the 2012 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. Thompson has played for the U.S. four previous times and has four medals to his credit — two bronze medals in the men’s worlds (2018, 2021) and gold medals in the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2015 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. Garland was part of the 2021 bronze medal-winning U.S. Men’s National Team in the world championship also competed for Team USA in the 2023 men’s worlds.
Lead the way, boys! #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/u284glDLTt
Throughout the IIHF Men’s World Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re simply calling, “This or That.”
Today, it’s Mike McCarron from the Nashville Predators who is playing in his first IIHF Men’s World Championship.
East Coast or West Coast -> East Coast
Hot Dog or Hamburger -> Hamburger
Country or Rock -> Country
Ranch or Blue Cheese -> Blue Cheese (crumbles)
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee -> Iced Coffee
Sports Car or Truck -> Sports Car
Soda or Pop -> Pop
Bags or Cornhole -> Bags
Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce -> Travis Kelce
Jeans or Sweats -> Jeans
Tennis Shoes or Sneakers -> Tennis shoes
Super Bowl or World Series -> Super Bowl
4th of July or Memorial Day -> 4th of July
Takeout or Dine-in -> Dine-in
Skiing or Snowboarding -> Skiing
Cream Cheese or Butter (on a bagel) -> Cream Cheese
Apple Pie or Chocolate Chip Cookies -> Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes -> Tom Brady
The U.S. had a 45-minute practice today here in Düsseldorf, Germany, at PSD Bank Dome in preparation for its lone pre-tournament game here tomorrow at 5 p.m. local (11 a.m. ET) vs. Germany. The game can be seen live on USAHockeyTV.com. Team USA head coach Ryan Warsofsky has assistant coach Mike Vellucci leading Team USA’s power play efforts and assistant coach Kevin Dean guiding the U.S. penalty kill.
NEW ARRIVALS
Clayton Keller and Josh Doan arrived today after battling travel delays. The duo landed at the Frankfurt airport this morning just before 8 a.m. and came via van to Düsseldorf (which Keller shared included a driver that put the pedal to the metal). After a brief stop at the hotel, they got to the rink just after 11 a.m. for the team’s 12 noon practice. While Doan is playing in his first IIHF World Championship for the U.S., Keller is back on the world stage for the sixth time. He has played in two IIHF Men’s World Championships (2019- Bratislava/Kosice, Slovakia, 2017-Cologne, Germany) and helped Team USA to a gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2017 and medals in both the 2016 (bronze) and 2015 (gold) IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships.
Preeti V. Shah, who serves as U.S. Consul General Düsseldorf, will join Düsseldorf Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, for the ceremonial puck drop prior to tomorrow’s USA-Germany game. Shah, who was born in Philadelphia, grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. She joined the Foreign Service in 2004 and has previously served in Nicaragua, Turkey, Afghanistan, Mexico and Indonesia. Tomorrow night’s highly anticipated game is sold out.
Among the conversations at the rink after practice today … are sneakers and tennis shoes synonyms, like soda and pop. The prevailing opinion was no, they are different, and a quick Google search opines that while they are often used interchangeably, tennis shoes and sneakers are indeed different.
Adam Nightingale is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team for the second time (2021 was the first) and has been involved with the squad on three previous occasions as the team’s video coach (2017-19). The current head men’s ice hockey coach at Michigan State University, Nightingale was also the head coach of the silver medal-winning 2022 U.S. Under-18 Team Men’s National Team and served as the video coach for the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team. Nightingale also spent two seasons (2020-22) as a head coach at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (2020-22) and through his many roles has connection to approximately two-thirds of Team USA’s roster here at the world championship … After a high of 82 in Düsseldorf yesterday, the temperatures fell back to the mid-60s today, which is more normal for this time of year … The U.S. is hosting the 2025 IPC Para Sled Hockey World Championship May 24-31 in Buffalo, N.Y. … Team USA and Team Germany will journey together on Monday from Cologne, Germany, to Herning, Denmark, where both will play in the preliminary round of the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Throughout the IIHF Men’s World Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re simply calling, “This or That.”
Today, it’s Cutter Gauthier from the Anaheim Ducks, who competed collegiately at Boston College and is playing in his second IIHF Men’s World Championship.
East Coast or West Coast -> West Coast
Hot Dog or Hamburger -> Hamburger
Country or Rock -> Country
Ranch or Blue Cheese -> Ranch
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee -> Iced Coffee (for sure)
Sports Car or Truck -> Sports Car
Soda or Pop -> Soda
Bags or Cornhole -> Bags
Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce -> Travis Kelce
Jeans or Sweats -> Sweats
Tennis Shoes or Sneakers -> Sneakers
Super Bowl or World Series -> Super Bowl
4th of July or Memorial Day -> 4th of July
Takeout or Dine-in -> Dine-in
Skiing or Snowboarding -> Snowboarding
Cream Cheese or Butter (on a bagel) -> Cream Cheese
Apple Pie or Chocolate Chip Cookies -> Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes -> Tom Brady
Today, the U.S. Men’s National Team arrived in Düsseldorf, Germany, for a three-day camp ahead of the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, which is set for May 9-25 in Herning, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden.
Coming from their home bases around the United States, players and staff arrived in two waves this morning at the international airport in Frankfurt, Germany. They made the two-and-a-half trek via charter bus to the team’s host hotel in the center of the city, which is near the Hofgarten Park and a short distance from the popular Königsallee shopping area here in Düsseldorf.
Team USA had a 45-minute skate at 4 o’clock this afternoon, led by head coach Ryan Warsofsky (head coach of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks) and assistants Mike Vellucci, Kevin Dean, Adam Nightingale and Thomas Speer — with the ultimate goal of getting the legs moving and recovering from what was a lengthy travel journey for all.
Team USA has 19 players here currently in camp, with Josh Doan and Clayton Keller set to arrive tomorrow and additional players coming in on Monday. The group to date includes 10 first-round NHL draft picks and more than 5,000 games of NHL experience. In addition, the U.S. roster includes significant international experience, with all but Doan, Joey Daccord and Mason Lohrei having played in an IIHF world championship at some level.
The challenge on day one is always for everyone to acclimate to the new time zone (Düsseldorf is six hours ahead of ET), which includes avoiding napping and staying up until one’s normal bedtime at home.
Team USA’s practice today was at PSD Bank Dome here in Dusseldorf, which has a capacity of 14,282 for hockey. The U.S. will also practice there tomorrow and take on Germany in its lone pre-tournament game on Sunday at 5 p.m. (11 a.m. ET/watch live on USAHockeyTV.com). The facility opened in September 2006, and Sunday’s contest will be the first international hockey game the venue has hosted. The game has long been sold out. Germany is the host of the 2027 IIHF Men’s World Championship and PSD Bank Dome will be the host of one of the preliminary round groups.
While the U.S. has four bronze medals to its credit in recent times in the IIHF Men’s World Championship (2013, 2015, 2018, 2021), it has won the gold medal just once, that all the way back in 1933 … U.S. netminder Joey Daccord, who is playing in his first-ever Team USA event, speaks German and Swiss-German (and was using it today here in Dusseldorf). His mother, Daniela, grew up in Switzerland and his father, Brian, in Montreal. Joey is a citizen of three countries — the U.S., Switzerland and Canada … Brett Berard, who was previously announced as part of Team USA, is unable to compete … The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team plays Sweden in the semifinals of the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship tonight at 7 p.m. CT in Frisco, Texas, live on NHL Network.
Joey Daccord
Throughout the IIHF Men’s World Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re simply calling, “This or That.” We start with defenseman Brady Skjei from the Nashville Predators, who competed collegiately at the University of Minnesota and is playing in his fourth IIHF Men’s World Championship.
East Coast or West Coast -> East Coast
Hot Dog or Hamburger -> Hamburger
Country or Rock -> Country
Ranch or Blue Cheese -> Ranch (100%!!)
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee -> Iced Coffee (all day long)
Sports Car or Truck -> Truck
Soda or Pop -> Soda (used to say pop)
Bags or Cornhole -> Bags (used to say cornhole)
Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce -> Travis Kelce
Jeans or Sweats -> Sweats
Tennis Shoes or Sneakers -> Sneakers (used to say tennis shoes)
Super Bowl or World Series -> Super Bowl
4th of July or Memorial Day -> 4th of July
Takeout or Dine-in -> Dine-in
Skiing or Snowboarding -> Snowboarding
Cream Cheese or Butter (on a bagel) -> Cream Cheese
Apple Pie or Chocolate Chip Cookies -> Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes -> Tom Brady
Tag(s): News Men's World Championship Home 2025 Men's Worlds
