April 30: Day 2

Day two in Herning saw more U.S. players and staff arrive in time for the team's second skate.

APPERT JOINS U.S. AFTER U18'S EARN SILVER
Among today's arrivals was assistant coach Seth Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.), who came over straight from Chelyabinsk, Russia, where he was head coach for the 2018 U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team that earned a silver medal. The medal was Team USA's tournament-record 15th straight. With the U.S. Men's National Team, Appert will now work with Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) after just coaching Jack Hughes in Russia where he earned the Directorate Award as the tournament’s top forward and was named to the Media All-Star Team and Tournament MVP after leading the tournament in scoring with 12 points (5-7-12).

USHL POWERS TEAM USA
Seventeen players on the 2018 U.S. Men's National Team spent time in the United States Hockey League, the only Tier I junior league in the United States. Among the 17 USHL alumni are four Clark Cup champions in Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints, 2011), Alec Martinez (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2005) and Green Bay Gamblers teammates Anders Lee and Nick Jensen in 2010. Additionally, three players earned playing honors, as Neal Pionk was named the 2014-15 USHL Defenseman of the Year; Anders Lee was tabbed 2009-10 USHL Rookie of the Year; and Blake Coleman earned both the 2010-11 USHL Player of the Year and 2010-11 USHL Forward of the Year awards.

ROSTER SPOTLIGHT: 4 U.S. NHL DEBUTS
In the mix of the 23 players on Team USA's current roster are four who made their NHL debuts this past season. Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) -- and four other Devils on the U.S. roster -- was instrumental in helping the New Jersey Devils return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs as he registered 44 points in 81 games. Additionally, Neal Pionk (Hermantown, Minn.), Tage Thompson (Milford, Conn.) and Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) all split time this season with their respective NHL clubs and their AHL affiliates. Pionk opened the season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack before receiving the call up to the New York Rangers. Thompson started the season with the San Antonio Rampage before closing the year out in St. Louis, while White saw his season start delayed with a hand injury before spending time between the NHL's Ottawa Senators and AHL's Belleville Senators.