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 Friday 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 Friday 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.
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 – 10:20 a.m. | United States vs. Norway
Saturday, May 17 – 6:20 a.m. | United States vs. Germany
Sunday, May 18 – 10:20 a.m. | Kazakhstan vs. United States
Tuesday, May 20 – 10:20 a.m. | Czechia vs. United States
While Thompson competes at the World Championship from May 9-24, become a Sabres Season Ticket Member and receive a limited-edition TNT shirt.
Learn more and sign up here.
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.
