After a day off yesterday, Team USA returned to the ice at the KVIK Hockey Arena in Herning, Denmark, for practice ahead of tomorrow's game against Latvia. Following practice, players and head coach Jeff Blashill took part in media availability. The team will return to the hotel, rest up before dinner and get ready for tomorrow's game.
KEEP IMPROVING
One message the coaching staff sent to its players was the reminder to keep improving as it turns its attention to Latvia.
"Now we get to regroup and get ready for what we know will be a real tough Latvia game," said Blashill. "They play extremely hard so we know it will be a good challenge tomorrow."
IIHF SOCIAL MEDIA FUN
Following practice today, former Boston College teammates and 2010 NCAA National Champions Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) and Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) played NHL Threes in a best-of-three series. Additionally, 2016 U.S. National Junior Team bronze medalists Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) played foosball. Both competitions were filmed by the IIHF social teams and will be published online in the coming days.
OFF DAY FILLED WITH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Yesterday, the team was given the day off to explore Herning and its nearby cities here in Denmark. While some staff visited nearby cities by train or bus, players broke up the day with a number of outdoor activities. A number of players went fishing, some went for a long bike ride and others played golf. Some relaxed with a movie at a nearby theater before walking the streets of Herning.
MURPHY'S FIFTH STRAIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
U.S. defenseman and alternate captain Connor Murphy(Dublin, Ohio) is skating in his fifth straight world championship. Only three other players in U.S. history have skated in five straight men's world championships, including Eric Weinrich (6 straight, 1997-2002), Darby Hendrickson (6 straight, 1996-2001) and Adam Hall (2003-07). A year ago, Murphy served as captain for the 2017 U.S. Men's National Team that finished fifth place under head coach Jeff Blashill.
LOOK AHEAD: LATVIA, 10:15 A.M. ET
The United States (2-1-0-0/W-OTW-OTL-L) returns to tournament action tomorrow (May 10) when it takes on Latvia (1-1-0-1/W-OTW-OTL-L). The game will be televised live on NHL Network at 4:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET.). With both teams having played three games and being off today, the U.S. will enter the game with eight points, currently second in Group B, while Latvia holds five points, which currently places them fourth.
ROSTER SPOTLIGHT: NEW ENGLAND YOUTH HOCKEY TIES
Five players on the U.S. Men's National Team have ties to youth hockey programs in the New England area. Of those players, two are from Connecticut, including Riverside's Cam Atkinson (Connecticut Jr. Rangers) and Milford's Tage Thompson (Mid Fairfield). Additionally, three players come from Massachusetts, including Braintree's Brian Gibbons (South Shore Kings), Boxford's Chris Kreider (Masconomet Youth Hockey) and Hanover's Colin White (South Shore Kings).