TEAM USA 2020 ROSTER SET FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN IRKUTSK, RUSSIA

The men’s USA National Team head coach Chris Halden has announced the final 18 - man roster for the World Championship in Irkutsk, Russia that will take place March 27-April 6.

The roster includes several veterans as well as five players making their international debut. The core players with several World Championships under their belt include captain Mike Carman, USA Elite league leading scorer Mikael Lickteig, Andrew and Peter Knutson, Wyatt Wenzel, Dane Erickson, Zach Knight and three players currently playing in Sweden including Daren Richardson, Alexander Zitouni and Kevin Brown. Both goal keepers from last year’s team return including Gavin Ancheta and Zach Wynne who is playing in Sweden this season as well for Ostersund. Mike Fabie returns after having a solid rookie debut in the 2019 VM in Sweden.

The five new players include Dane Erickson’s brother Evan Erickson, who last year was captain of the Gustavus hockey team; DJ Jones, Sam Blaisdell, Riley Williams and Nolan Haney. Haney is the son of USA Bandy legend Rick Haney who played in 20 World Championships for Team USA before retiring a couple years ago.

Coach Halden has the team training hard both on and off the ice including grueling dryland sessions twice a week at the F45 Training centers and a series of exhibition games against club teams in the USA Bandy League and Team Canada on February 8th.

The team will play in the elite A-Pool division that includes bandy powerhouses Russia, Sweden, Finland and Kazakhstan and rival Norway. Rounding out the eight countries are Germany and last year’s B-Pool champion Estonia.

The 2020 Roster