Shortly after the United States team`s overtime defeat to Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, Dylan Larkin, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, discussed the advancement of American hockey and future prospects.
Larkin, a veteran of five World Championships, suggested that the difficulty USA Hockey faces in persuading players to participate in the World Championships is evident. He expressed hope that watching events like the 4 Nations Face-Off would inspire players to want to compete for their country.
He emphasized the need for players to commit to the World Championships to prove themselves and represent their nation, aiming for victory in this tournament, similar to Canada`s approach.
Larkin`s comments have initiated discussions about a significant challenge for USA Hockey as it strives to become the dominant force in men`s international hockey. Achieving this requires a commitment that extends beyond high-profile tournaments like the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics, starting with how players perceive participation in the IIHF World Championships.
USA Hockey`s leadership and NHL peers have taken note of Larkin`s statements, but a disparity remains in ensuring universal player buy-in.
ESPN consulted with ten sources, including players and management, to understand the difficulties USA Hockey encounters in attracting more elite NHL players to the World Championships. While this year’s tournament might serve as an Olympic team audition for some, opinions diverge on whether Olympic consideration should be the sole incentive to represent Team USA.
Bill Guerin, general manager of the Minnesota Wild, who managed Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and will also manage the 2026 Olympic team, stressed the need to rebuild a culture that values the World Championship tournament more highly. He dismissed common excuses for player absenteeism as inadequate and urged top players to consider participating to enhance the team’s chances of winning more frequently.
Guerin acknowledged genuine reasons for absence, such as personal matters, injuries, and contract considerations, but reiterated that many excuses fall short of justification.
The Evolution of American Hockey and International Tournaments
The landscape of American hockey has transformed significantly since Bill Guerin and John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director for hockey operations at USA Hockey, played in the NHL.
Neither was born when the U.S. secured its second World Championship alongside its first Olympic gold in 1960. Guerin was 10, and Vanbiesbrouck was 16 during the `Miracle On Ice` at the 1980 Olympics, where an amateur U.S. team defeated the Soviet Union to claim America’s second hockey gold.
Initially, the World Championships were exclusive to amateur players, but the IIHF permitted professionals starting in 1977, following the inception of the Canada Cup, a pro-player tournament held between 1976 and 1991.
The Canada Cup evolved into the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, and in 1998, the NHL began allowing its players to participate in the Olympics.
These changes allowed players like Guerin and Vanbiesbrouck to represent the U.S. throughout their professional careers, creating a contrast in roster composition.
Vanbiesbrouck, for instance, played in four World Championships and two Canada Cups, participating in both in 1991. That year, the U.S. World Championship roster included ten players under 23, while the Canada Cup team had only four.
Guerin, though never played at the Worlds, participated in three Olympics and two World Cups, including the gold-medal-winning 1996 World Cup team and the 2002 Olympic silver medal team. Team USA’s median age during Guerin’s era was 30.
Vanbiesbrouck reflected on the elevated expectations, stating that wearing the national jersey carries an expectation of national pride and honoring predecessors, a significant aspect of the game.
The establishment of the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) in 1996 was pivotal in raising these expectations. The NTDP became a hub for elite U18 and U17 male players.
Before the NTDP, the U.S. only achieved two bronze medals at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championships. Since its inception, the NTDP has been crucial in establishing U.S. dominance in the WJC, with seven gold medals since 2010, including a recent consecutive gold.
The NTDP’s success, producing 98 first-round NHL draft picks, and achievements at the World Juniors, suggested that USA Hockey should easily attract players. This was evident post-4 Nations Face-Off, contributing to the U.S. being a top contender for the 2026 Olympic gold.
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman, noted the close-knit nature of the team during the 4 Nations Face-Off, highlighting the positive impact of USA Hockey’s developmental programs from younger ages, fostering a winning expectation.
Players like Larkin and Werenski have different international hockey experiences compared to previous generations. Fewer international opportunities existed due to NHL player absence from the 2018 and 2022 Olympics and limited World Cups since 1996 (2004, 2016).
This context made the World Championships the most consistent near-best-on-best tournament option. However, despite growing demand for international hockey, a disconnect persists between U.S. players and the World Championships.
The World Championships` timing, from May 9 to May 25, coinciding with the Stanley Cup playoffs` second round and conference finals, is a potential factor. This timing limits player availability to those whose NHL teams are out of playoff contention or were early exits.
Vanbiesbrouck pointed out that the tournament’s timing coincides with players seeking rest after a long season and needing summer for recuperation, especially given the prevalence of injuries in today’s game. He acknowledged family commitments as another significant factor.
Perceptions of the World Championships: A Contrast
The Winnipeg Jets` Connor Hellebuyck and Nikolaj Ehlers exemplify differing views on the World Championships between the U.S. and other hockey nations.
Hellebuyck, from Michigan, near the NTDP headquarters, grew up watching and idolizing Detroit Red Wings players like Jimmy Howard. However, he first encountered the World Championship concept at 21, after his first AHL season in 2015, receiving a USA Hockey invitation.
Hellebuyck`s initial experience was positive, but he perceived the tournament as more beneficial for younger players seeking experience or veterans wanting extra play or travel, rather than a high-priority event for established NHL stars.
American hockey culture associates May with the Stanley Cup playoffs, alongside other major sporting events, diluting the World Championships` visibility.
Conversely, Ehlers, from Denmark, where hockey is less prominent, views the World Championships with greater significance. Denmark, with a smaller hockey player base, hosted the tournament in 2018, achieving high attendance, indicating strong European interest.
In Europe, the World Championships are major sporting events in countries like Czechia, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. The 2024 tournament in Czechia set attendance records, with most top-attended tournaments post-2010 being in Europe, not North America.
The U.S. last hosted in 1962, and Canada in 2008. Vanbiesbrouck mentioned no recent discussions about hosting but expressed interest in challenging the status quo.
Ehlers emphasized the tournament`s reverence in Europe, with fans traveling to support their nations. For countries like Denmark, it`s a chance to prove their hockey relevance.
Ehlers noted Denmark`s increasing NHL player representation and Olympic quarterfinal appearance, seeing the Worlds as an opportunity to demonstrate they are not a minor hockey nation.
Guerin echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of the tournament for European nations and the need for the U.S. to adopt a similar perspective.
Strategies for Enhancing USA Hockey`s World Championship Participation
To improve NHL player participation in the World Championships, Guerin mentioned USA Hockey`s initiative to support players bringing family to Europe. Vanbiesbrouck noted this development was inspired by Canada`s successful family support program.
Andre Tourigny, Canada’s national team coach, highlighted the family-oriented environment Hockey Canada fosters, enabling families to experience international tournaments together and build a community abroad.
Guerin acknowledged USA Hockey`s efforts to elevate the player experience at the World Championships, aiming to highlight the honor of representing the country and hoping to see increased player participation driven by the tournament’s perceived importance.
Matt Boldy of the Wild acknowledged Guerin’s and USA Hockey`s effective communication of the World Championships` significance, using it as part of the selection process for events like the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Boldy viewed the World Championships as a platform to demonstrate adaptability in different international play systems, especially noting the presence of top players from other nations.
As a two-time World Championship participant, Boldy valued learning from veterans like Johnny Gaudreau and Brock Nelson, both on and off the ice, which fostered team dynamics beneficial for future tournaments like the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Boldy emphasized that increased participation of top U.S. players in the World Championships would foster familiarity and ease transitions into major tournaments, enhancing team cohesion and competitiveness.
Guerin and Vanbiesbrouck noted interest from agents of players who missed the 4 Nations Face-Off, expressing desires for Olympic involvement. Vanbiesbrouck suggested the 4 Nations event highlighted the 2026 Olympics as a potentially final Team USA opportunity for some veteran players.
Guerin concluded by emphasizing that consistent participation in events like the World Championships is vital for Olympic team consideration and overall team development. He stressed the annual importance of the World Championships and USA Hockey`s goal to win.
