Keeping up with Tage on the global stage.
Tage Thompson is swapping his Sabres sweater for stars and stripes at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, which began May 9 in Herning, Denmark.
Thompson, the Buffalo Sabres’ only representative at this year’s tournament, is serving as an alternate captain as the United States competes for its first World Championship gold medal since 1960.
As one of eight teams in Group B, the Americans begin play at Herning’s Jyske Bank Boxen with matchups against Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Kazakhstan and Czechia. That schedule began May 9 and runs through May 20; with a top-four finish in the group stage, the U.S. advances to the quarterfinals.
The group stage standings work as follows: three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime/shootout win, one point for an overtime/shootout loss and zero points for a regulation loss.
Games will be broadcast on NHL Network (U.S.) and TSN (Canada). Here’s the United States’ full schedule – check back for Thompson’s stats and highlights, and Team USA’s results, as the tournament progresses.
Tuesday, May 20 | United States 5 – Czechia 2 | Thompson: 19:12 TOI, 6 SOG
Thompson’s three-game point streak was snapped in the victory, although he recorded the second-most ice time among American forwards and finished the game with the third-most shots.
The U.S. pulled away from Czechia in the third period, scoring four goals to come back from a one-goal deficit. Team USA clinched the second seed in Group B with the victory, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with the third-place finisher from Group A on Thursday.
Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinal vs. Finland (10:20 a.m.)
While Thompson competes at the World Championship from May 9-24, become a Sabres Season Ticket Member and receive a limited-edition TNT shirt.
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The Phoenix, Ariz. native has twice participated in Worlds, most recently in 2021. In the years since, he’s emerged as one of hockey’s most prolific offensive forces – his 158 goals across the last four NHL seasons are tied for 10th in the league.
“The fact that we (Team USA) haven’t won in such a long time – there’s motivation for that as well,” Thompson told NHL Network about his playing in this year’s tournament. “It’s a good time to be able to showcase myself, try to have a good showing and maybe have a chance to make the Olympic team.”
This season, despite leading Americans – and tying Alex Ovechkin for third in the NHL – with 44 goals, the 6-foot-6 forward was omitted from the United States’ 4 Nations Face-Off roster. He was summoned as an emergency backup for the Feb. 20 championship game but watched from the press box as Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime.
With every contribution at the World Championship, Thompson will fortify his (already strong) case for a roster spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
“You’d be lying if you say it’s not on your mind,” Thompson said of the Olympics. “I think that’s great. I think that internal competition within USA Hockey is only gonna make the game grow in America and help each other push to try to make those teams and compete every year.”
The American roster, comprised mostly of established NHL talent, also includes forwards Conor Garland, Shane Pinto and Matty Beniers; defensemen Zach Werenski, Brady Skjei and Jackson LaCombe; and goaltenders Jeremy Swayman and Joey Daccord.
Friday, May 9 | United States 5 – Denmark 0 | Thompson: 17:31 TOI, 1 A, 8 SOG
The Americans had their way with the hosting Danes, outshooting them 48-26 in the tournament opener; Thompson’s eight shots led all skaters.
On an early second-period power play, Thompson’s wrister from the left circle produced a rebound and chaos around Danish goaltender Frederick Dichow. Utah’s Logan Cooley buried it, netting Thompson a secondary assist and extending the United States’ lead to 2-0.
Sunday, May 11 | United States 6 – Hungary 0 | Thompson: 16:09 TOI, 4 SOG, +1
Thompson is up to 12 shots through two games, both blowout wins, and remains hungry for his first goal at this year’s tournament. In Sunday’s third period, the 6-foot-6 forward posted up at the net front while Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley connected for the Americans’ sixth goal.
Monday, May 12 | Switzerland 3 – United States 0 | Thompson: 14:38 TOI
After totaling an assist and 12 shots between the first two contests, Thompson was held off the scoresheet as the Americans suffered their first loss of the tournament.
Wednesday, May 14 | United States 6 – Norway 5 (OT) | Thompson: 18:36 TOI, 3 G, 7 SOG, +1
Thompson’s hat trick, completed with an overtime winner, led the United States to its third win of the tournament. His seven shots on goal led all skaters.
First, midway through the opening period, he extended the Americans’ lead to 3-1. Thompson weaved into the slot, had his shot attempt blocked, collected the loose puck and ripped it past Norwegian netminder Tobias Normann.
Then, 2:55 into the second, he settled Clayton Keller’s cross-slot pass and snapped in a power-play goal from the left dot to put the United States up 5-1.
Norway stormed back with four unanswered goals, including the game-tying tally with 1:27 remaining in regulation. Finally, 4:09 into overtime on another power play, Thompson ended it with a signature, top-corner one-timer from the left dot.
Saturday, May 17 | United States 6 – Germany 3 | Thompson: 19:58 TOI, 1 G, 1 A, 7 SOG, +1
Thompson buried a shot from the left circle on the power play for his fourth goal of the tournament, which opened the scoring just 1:42 into the contest. Later in the first period, he sliced through traffic in the neutral zone to carry the puck over the offensive blue line and put a shot on net, creating a rebound for Drew O’Connor to bury the United States’ third goal.
Germany stormed back from the 3-0 deficit in the second period, but the United States scored three unanswered goals to regain control in the third. Thompson had a team-high seven shots for the second straight game.
Sunday, May 18 | United States 6 – Kazakhstan 1 | Thompson: 14:41 TOI, 1 G, 4 SOG, +2
Thompson skated into a loose puck in the slot and buried a wrist shot for the United States’ third goal. The goal moved him into a tie for fifth in the tournament, while his 30 shots were alone for the tournament lead.
