Tuesday, May 9, 2017
3:00 p.m. local time

COLOGNE, Germany – Team USA was busy preparing for its fourth preliminary round game vs. Italy today. The squad had an optional afternoon practice at the practice arena.

Goaltenders Jimmy Howard and Cal Peterson joined forwards Jack Eichel, Anders Bjork, Christian Dvorak, Jordan Greenway, J.T. Compher, Nick Bjugstad and Brock Nelson, along with defensemen Charlie McAvoy, Noah Hanifin, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Daniel Brickley on the ice with coaches Seth Appert and Rand Pecknold.

On the lighter side, defenseman Charlie McAvoy forgot to remove his skate guards before he hit the ice and needless to say took a small tumble to the ice. As expected, that drew a good chuckle from his teammates.

The team will have a dinner early this evening before a team meeting at 9 o’clock.

Tomorrow, a good number of players and staff will have guests arrive who will be here mostly through the duration of the tournament. Some have been abroad before, but for many, it will be the first time.

FEEDING THE TEAMS
All eight teams are staying at one hotel in Cologne. Meals are provided to all teams in a large in buffet style. Each team has a separate area of the ballroom with tables for its team and staff designated by the flag of their country on each table.

FILMING HAPPENING TODAY
U.S. forward Nick Bjugstad and U.S. Men’s National Team advisory group member Dale Tallon will be filming a new episode of Quick Shift today, which will appear on USA Hockey’s website and YouTube channel in the days ahead. Tallon is the general manager of the Florida Panthers where Bjugstad plays.

FOUR HEAD COACHES
The U.S. Men’s National Team coaching staff bring vast experience to the table with all four coaches having head coaching experience. Head Coach Jeff Blashill is the current head coach of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and was the head coach of both the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL and Indiana Ice of the USHL, while assistant coach Jack Capuano is the former head coach of the NHL’s New York Islanders and also was head coach for Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL and Pee Dee Pride in the ECHL. Furhter, assistant coach Rand Pecknold is the current head coach of the Quinnipiac University men’s ice hockey team, and assistant coach Seth Appert is the former head coach of the RPI men’s ice hockey team. None of the four have previously worked together in any capacity, although both Blashill and Appert are former goaltenders at Ferris State University.

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Inside Story with Team USA Forward Christian Dvorak

Favorite Youth Hockey Moment
Going to the USA Hockey national championship with the Chicago Mission

Best thing about hockey
Playing the best sport in the world and battling with my teammates

Favorite Olympic sport outside of hockey
Love the Olympics. Tough to choose, but I’ll go with beach volleyball

Best Movie You’ve Seen Recently
Don’t Breathe. Just watched it when we were in Italy.

Favorite Streaming Show
Prison Break

Go-To Music
Chain Smokers