All eyes were on the 88th IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark starting May 9, 2025 as some of the world’s best hockey players, including many NHL stars that didn’t make the playoffs, return to the ice wearing their nation’s colors.
The tournament hosts the best hockey players in the world as they represent their home country for a chance at a gold medal on the world stage. It also creates another chance for an international spectacle between two hockey powerhouses, USA and Canada, like they did at the 4 Nations and World Juniors tournaments earlier this year.
Team USA is star-studded with some names you may be familiar with, including World Juniors standout Zeev Buium and Brady Skjei on the blue line, not to mention Joey Daccord and Jeremey Swayman as options between the pipes for the Americans. Matty Beniers, Tage Thompson, and Clayton Keller are a few of the names you can expect to see attacking the net in the red, white, and blue throughout the tournament.
There is no better time of the year to be a hockey fan with the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs, ECHL’s Kelly Cup Playoffs and the IIHF World Championships commencing at one time.
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As expected, this young USA team has the speed and skill to run the score up against even the most stalwart performances by a goaltender. Denmark had a number of great moments including the entirety of the first period, holding the Americans to just one goal.
Eventually, efforts from Matty Beniers, Tage Thompson, and Joey Daccord became too much for the Danish team to overcome, even in front of the red and white adorned home crowd.
Joey Daccord earned the shutout and this stacked USA hockey team can look towards their next game early Sunday morning against Hungary.
That’ll do! 🇺🇸#MensWorlds, presented by @Discover pic.twitter.com/9SDTnyjK8k
For his second goal of the game and USA’s 46th shot on net, Matty Beniers ripped a beautiful shot high past Dichow and through four tired Denmark players. Cutter Gauthier set him up and Will Smith earned an assist as well.
As Denmark continued to struggle to get set up in the offensive zone, Nicklas Jensen and Andrew Peeke exchanged one too many crosschecks by the bench behind the play.
Dichow continued to be a highlight throughout the third for Denmark despite the score.
After what has been an impressive performance by Denmark’s goaltender, 24-year old Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei was able to sweep the puck low and hard into the net from the blue line. Dichow was devastated when he realized that it got past him.
Assists went to Michael Kesselring and Frank Nazar. 10:29 remained in the third period.
Mason Lohrei from the blue line! #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/CH4uhk1Q1T
After a fairly innocuous shot on Dichow, play ended as he covered the puck. Both teams started scrapping after the whistle which led to roughing calls on Christian Wejse and Conor Garland. It escalated fairly quickly from some petty grabbing—the energy is intensifying as Denmark tries to rally for the home crowd. 18 minutes remained in the third.
With 13:44 remaining, Denmark’s Wejse crashed the net which drew the whistle and a small congregation of bodies in Joey Daccord’s office. Nothing came of it as the feed cut to commercial.
Two strong offensive chances from Denmark led to Daccord splaying out to stop the puck from going in as Mikkel Aagaard and Oscar Moelgaard rushed the net less than 60 seconds into the period.
The final 20 minutes of this Friday afternoon match-up between USA and Denmark on the first day of the 2025 IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships.
The young offensive talent throughout USA’s lineup started getting more space to play during this period, leading to a run for the red, white, and blue.
Cutter Gauthier, Conor Garland, and Mike Eyssimont were just a few of the players who were able to use their impressive acceleration and speed to create space and opportunities to get the puck deep. After a burst of speed and some fancy puck work, it was often enough to set up a few passes around the Danish defense and send it in to test Dichow.
Shots Total:
Saves Total:
PIM Total:
Faceoffs Won Total:
TOI Total, Most:
USA has 25 shots while Denmark has just 13 with 8 minutes remaining in the second.
Denmark started mounting a bit of pushback with just 6 minutes remaining, but were unable to fool Joey Daccord who has been rock solid all game despite the lack of action. With just two minutes remaining in the period, they were able to add a few more good looks to make it 17 shots.
After Beniers won the faceoff, USA passed the puck between defensemen and Beniers crashed the net to deflect the puck delivery from Andrew Peeke off of his stick to skate and past Dichow to give the Americans a three-goal lead.
Off Beniers in front of the net for goal No. 3 🚨 #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/m3Q4mU1IrF
USA’s top line is starting to get some more time and space and that means Tage Thompson driving the net with his usual puck control and quick turns with passing from Cooley and Keller. Dichow’s been putting on a show just trying to keep Thompson’s shots out of the net with just over half the period remaining.
Frank Nazar was tripped en route to the net which sent him tumbling directly into Denmark’s goal and Dichow, driving the net off of its moorings.
Oliver Lauridsen handed the Americans their second power play of the game (0-1).
Chaos ensued when Wejse sent Tage Thompson to the ice beside the net, Cooley scored as the Danish goalie repositioned and B. Jensen was unable to clear the puck. Cooley flicked it in off of the back of Dichow.
Cools tucks it in on the PP 🚨 #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/plI3oGczTX
USA started the period off with a minute straight of a sense of urgency as Cooley, Keller, and Thompson immediately put pressure on Dichow and started working their pass game while forcing openings in Denmark’s defense.
After what was a somewhat frustrating period for the Americans, Cutter Gauthier was able to pot his 8th career goal at the World Championships. Denmark has a lot to be proud of after that period. They were creating nice plays in the offensive zone and maintaining control on defense outside of a few outliers that Dichow was able to clean up.
Both teams had 9 shots against.
Leo Carlsson buried that one… literally. The puck had to be dug out of the net!😅#MensWorlds #IIHF @Trekronorse pic.twitter.com/T5CQA6YsJr
Michael Kesselring made a pass at the line to Cutter Gauthier for the first USA goal of the tournament. Gauthier took a shot from between the circles but it was perfectly placed high blocker side with 2:08 remaining in the first.
Team @usahockey lights the lamp at the end of the first period! 🇺🇸🚨 #MensWorlds #IIHF pic.twitter.com/zAJ8xUD36z
Off of a long pass down the center of the ice to 20-year old Frank Nazar, a breakaway opened up to make it 1-on-1 with speed against Denmark’s goalie. Once again, Dichow came through to make the stop in a high pressure situation. Three minutes remained in the first period.
🚨WHAT A SET UP! Mikael Backlund makes the crowd roar! 😲#MensWorlds #IIHF @Trekronorse pic.twitter.com/oNHIZPgHJX
Less than a minute after a crease violation by Tage Thompson, who entered the blue paint at Denmark’s goal off the rush, Thompson had a big hit for Patrick Russell.
Oscar took an early shot on Daccord with a quick release that could’ve caught him off guard but he was able to make the pad save before USA cleared it back to Denmark’s end.
The red and white were able to re-enter and keep the puck in for another 30 seconds before sending it out of play off of a Nick Olesen shot from the top of the circle.
Team USA killed the power play.
Team USA earned one of its best offensive shifts deep in Denmark’s zone after a clean entry by Michael Eyssimont as the clock ticked past 12 minutes remaining in the first period. A sneaky pass from McCaron to Doan on the doorstep gave Dichow his first test. The attack led to a few different chances as Braady Skjei pinched to keep the puck in.
Dichow was able to stop the momentum.
Christian Wejse was called for tripping on Conor Garland to give the Americans their first power play attempt. The red and white donned fans started whistling as the Americans moved the puck around the perimeter of a conservative Denmark defense.
After a few clears, the Danish were able to kill off the power play. Dichow was forced to make his first save on a quick serve from Keller to Tage Thompson. Five minutes in and we’re still scoreless.
It’s Friday and that means it’s a great day to sit down and watch some awesome international hockey as Team USA takes on Denmark in this opening match.
The wait is over. #MensWorlds starts NOW 🇺🇸
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With the youngest roster in the tournament, Team USA has a chance at being one of the fastest and flashiest teams with an average age of 24 years old. Captain Clayton Keller will lead the top line with Tage Thompson and Logan Cooley—three forwards that have proven offensive firepower and more experience in tow to set the tone.
They’ll be taking on the Danes at Jyske Bank BOXEN in Herning, Denmark.
For those who are curious – game one lines ⤵️#MensWorlds | @WinmarkResale pic.twitter.com/LsYXiMsZtN
Clayton Keller – Tage Thompson – Logan Cooley
Matty Beniers – Cutter Gauthier – Will Smith
Drew O’Connor – Conor Garland – Frank Nazar
Mikey Eyssimont – Michael McCarron – Josh Doan
Isaac Howard
Jackson Lacombe – Brady Skjei
Andrew Peeke – Alex Vlasic
Michael Kesselring – Zeev Buium
Mason Lohrei
Jeremy Swayman
Joey Daccord
Nicklas Jensen – Patrick Russell – Nick Olesen
Oscar Moelgaard – Mikkel Aagaard – Joachim Blichfeld
Christian Wejse – Nicolai Meyer – Mathias From
Alexander True – Morten Poulsen – Mathias Bau
Jesper Jensen Aabo – Philip Bruggisser
Matias Lassen – Markus Lauridsen
Anders Koch – Nicholas B. Jensen
Oliver Lauridsen
Sebastian Dahm
Frederik Dichow
All of the games in the 2025 IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships will be streamed live on the NHL Network for fans in the United States.
Forwards:
Defensemen:
Goalies:
* – Named to team, not yet registered on official roster for the tournament.
Friday, May 9 – Preliminary Round
Saturday, May 10 – Preliminary Round
Sunday, May 11 – Preliminary Round
Monday, May 12 – Preliminary Round
Tuesday, May 13 – Preliminary Round
Wednesday, May 14 – Preliminary Round
Thursday, May 15 – Preliminary Round
Friday, May 16 – Preliminary Round
Saturday, May 17 – Preliminary Round
Sunday, May 18 – Preliminary Round
Monday, May 19 – Preliminary Round
Tuesday, May 20 – Preliminary Round
Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinal Round
Saturday, May 24 – Semifinal Round
Sunday, May 25 – Championship
Group A
Group B
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