COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- USA Hockey announced today the 20 players which will make up its U.S. National Sled Hockey Team for the International Para Hockey Cup in Ostrava, Czechia, Oct. 2-8. The roster includes 17 players who were members of the 2022-23 squad that won gold at the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. 

“We look forward to starting our season,” said Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), general manager of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “Our team has a great mix of young players and returning veterans and we look forward to a great tournament in Czechia.”

The four-team IPH Cup field includes the U.S., host Czechia, Canada and Team IPH, which will be largely comprised of players from European countries. 

Team USA opens preliminary round play Monday, Oct. 2, against Team IPH at Ostravar Arena. Puck drop is at 9:00 a.m. ET and all games in the tournament will be streamed live. For complete tournament information, click here. 

“The IPH Cup is an excellent event,” said David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), in his sixth season as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “We’re looking forward to the competition and a chance to see how our group meshes as we begin a new season.”

WHO'S BACK? 

Highlighting the group of returnees are Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.), Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Travis Dodson (Deming, N.M.), Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.), Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and Jen Lee (San Francisco, Calif.). 

Pauls, in his 16th season with the team and sixth as captain, is a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, as well as a six-time world champion. Alternate captain Farmer, the all-time leader in goals (144), assists (114) and points (258) for the U.S. National Sled Team, is in his 12th season. Fellow alternate captain Dodson enters his seventh campaign after setting career-best marks in goals (10), assists (10) and points (20) in 2022-23.

Roybal, a three-time Paralympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, returns for his 11th year after becoming just the second player in team history to reach 200 career points last season. He’s joined by defenseman Wallace, who is returning for an eighth season after tallying a career-high 32 points (12g, 20a) in 2022-23. A three-time Paralympic gold medalist and three-time world champion, goaltender Lee is back for his 11th season between the pipes.

Also back from the 2022-23 squad is Brett Bolton (Rockledge, Fla.), Chris Douglas (Saint Cloud, Fla.), Rob Easley (Denver, Colo.), David Eustace (Stoneham, Mass.), Noah Grove (Frederick, Md.), Malik Jones (Aurora, Colo.), Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.), Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa), Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.), Ben Musselman (Amelia, Ohio), and Evan Nichols (Haymarket, Va.). 

Kyle Zych (South Hadley, Mass.), a member of the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team that captured gold in Beijing in 2022, will be returning to the national team after skating with the U.S. Men’s Development Sled Team in 2022-23.

NEW FACES 

Liam Cunningham (River Falls, Wis.) and Daniel Malloy (Bowie, Md.) will be making their U.S. National Sled Team debuts at the IPH Cup. Both skated with the U.S. Men’s Development Sled Team in 2022-23.  

NOTES: The roster includes players ranging in age from 15 to 38, with an average age of 27… Players hail from 13 different states, with Massachusetts leading the way with three, followed by Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey each with two … Corey Gorder (Bottineau, N.D.) will serve as assistant coach to head coach David Hoff, with other staff members including athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.), team physician Dr. Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), and equipment manager Nick Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.).