OSTRAVA, Czechia -- The 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship gets underway on Friday. A strong U.S. team will face a tough test in the Group B opener against Sweden.
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The United States has put together hopeful of making another run to the semifinals. The team has made it to the final four in seven of the last 10 tournaments, winning bronze four times over that span. The Americans have high-end talent like Brady Tkachuk and Trevor Zegras, along with some local flavor. Michigan natives Luke Hughes, Jeff Petry, Zach Werenski, Matthew Kessel and Trey Augustine are set to represent their country in Czechia.
The U.S. has won 20 medals in the tournament’s history, with two gold medals, the last coming in 1960, when the Winter Olympics counted as the world championships.
Sweden also has a loaded roster with both players from the NHL and Europe. Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is joined by Joel Eriksson Ek of the Minnesota Wild and former Detroit Red Wing Patrick Nemeth. Tre Kronor has a trip of young netminders, Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild), Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia Flyers) and Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild). Sweden is coming off a disappointing quarterfinal exit at last year’s tournament.
Sweden has won 47 medals over the years, tied with Czechia and Russia for the second-most in Worlds history. The last took home hardware when they won their second straight gold in 2018.
IIHF MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Group B)
United States vs. Sweden
When: Friday, May 10
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Where: Ostrava Arena (Ostrava, Czechia)
Channel: NHL Network
Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream