All the pieces are in place for the 2012-13 USA Men's Bandy team as they ready themselves for the 2013 World Championships in Vetlanda, Sweden. The U.S. has been working hard this winter playing a grueling schedule, and competing against the best teams that North America has to offer, including the Division I teams from the USA Bandy League, as well as games versus friendly rival Team Canada.

The United States will jump right into the Bandy upon arrival in Sweden, playing a pre-tournament schedule that includes games against host Vetlanda BK (J-20), Jönköping BK and Nässjo IF starting on January 20th. The U.S. then joins Canada, Hungary and Latvia in the B-Pool after competing in the A-Pool the past three tournaments. The U.S. opens with most likely their toughest opponent on January 23rd, in Canada. They will then play a double header on January 24th against Hungary and Latvia before entering the Semifinals on January 26th. Unlike last time the U.S. was in the B-Pool, there is now a C-Pool that includes Estonia, Holland, Japan and first time entrant Ukraine.

What seems to be the norm on any U.S. Bandy team, the roster is a mix of experienced veterans, and fresh faces. Stabilizing the team on the back end is the most experienced of all the players on the team, Co-Captain Rick Haney. Haney has been a constant at Sweeper for the American squad dating back to the early 90's. Haney is joined by an experienced group of young veterans, including Co-Captain John Arundel, Scott Arundel, Mike Hosfield, Jon Keseley, Andrew Knutson, Erik Kraska, Brent Palmer, David Plaunt, Daren Richardson and Evan Richardson. Daren Richardson, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota is currently playing in the Swedish Elite League for Vetlanda BK, and clearly the player to watch. Two time B-Pool scoring champion Jon Keseley moves back to Forward after a stint at Halfback in Almaty, Kazakhstan last year, and should once again be a favorite in this years B-Pool scoring race.

Players making their debut in this years World Championship are John Haertzen, Tyler Haertzen, Andrew Hogan, Peter Knutson, Derek Melander and Ian Middlebrook.

Chris Halden returns to Coach the team, assisted by Mikael Sandberg. Sandberg will also act as a reserve player on the team as he battles an ongoing knee issue, and would only play if there were to be a significant number of injuries on the team. Said Halden of the teams chances in Sweden "It will be good for us to play games against top Swedish clubs in preparation for the tournament. If we play solid Bandy both offensively and defensively, we have a good chance to win. We've gained tremendous experience playing in the A-Pool the last three years. Against powerhouses like Russia and Sweden, we were forced into a defensive shell, so this year it will be nice to have the opportunity to go on the offensive".

The team hopes to make a return to the A-Pool, and will have that opportunity by winning the B-Pool final on January 26th. Their most likely opponent in that game would be their rivals to the north, Canada. Should the U.S. gain a spot in the final, and subsequently win that game, they would play in the A-Pool being held in Irkutsk, Russia in 2014.

Check out more at the official website of the 2013 Bandy World Championships at:  goo.gl/suXYg