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USA Hockey chooses 11 USHL alumni for IIHF worlds

April 17, 2007 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


GRAND FORKS, ND: USA Hockey announced its preliminary roster for the 2007 IIHF World Championship on Monday, naming 19 players that will compete in the tournament to be held in Moscow, Russia. Of the 19 players on the roster, 11 have at one time or another played in the USHL.

"The world championship is one of the best tournaments in the world each year. There's always a high talent level because a multitude of NHL players whose season is over will play for their countries. It will be an outstanding experience for our former players," said USHL president Gino Gasparini. "It's an honor to represent your country and we are proud that USA Hockey has chosen so many players that we've had the pleasure to help develop over the years."

USHL alumni named include goaltender John Grahame (Sioux City) and defensemen Andrew Alberts (Waterloo), Keith Ballard (Omaha) and Matt Greene (Green Bay). Forwards selected include Tyler Arnason (Fargo-Moorhead), Brandon Bochenski (Lincoln), Erik Cole (Des Moines), Chad LaRose (Sioux Falls), Toby Petersen (Fargo-Moorhead), Paul Stastny (River City) and David Backes (Lincoln). The senior director of hockey operations for the team is former Twin Cities Vulcans coach Jim Johannson.

"I'm very excited to be a part of the men's world championship hockey team. It's my third time to wear the team USA sweater and I'm more excited than ever," Erik Cole said during the USA Hockey conference call. "I'm just happy and proud to be a part of it." Cole played in the 2005 World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria and the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy.

The United States will play an exhibition game against Sweden on April 25 in Stockholm. They will play their first tournament game against Austria on April 27. Belarus and the Czech Republic are also in the United States' bracket.

The United States has not won a medal at the World Championship since 2004 (bronze) and hasn't won the gold medal since 1960 when they won gold at the Squaw Valley Olympics.

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