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Kealty Named General Manager of 2025 U.S. Men's National Team

By USA Hockey, 01/17/25, 11:45AM EST

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U.S. to play in 2025 IIHF Men's Worlds, May 9-25, in Denmark and Sweden

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jeff Kealty (Framingham, Mass.), who is in his 24th season with the Nashville Predators and seventh as assistant general manager/director of scouting, will serve as general manager for the 2025 U.S. Men’s National Team, it was announced today by USA Hockey.

“We’re excited to have Jeff as the general manager of our men’s national team,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “His experience, particularly related to his knowledge of the player pool, will be a big benefit in leading our efforts in building a team that can compete for a gold medal.”

The U.S. Men’s National Team will play in the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship, which is set for May 9-25, in Herning, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden. Team USA will play its preliminary round games in Group B at Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning where it will face Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Norway, and Switzerland. Preliminary round games in Group A, which includes Austria, Canada, France, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden, will take place at Globe Arena in Stockholm. Two quarterfinal games will be played at each location with the semifinals and medals games all staged at Globe Arena.

The U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, led by Vanbiesbrouck and including NHL general managers Kevyn Adams (Buffalo Sabres), Craig Conroy (Calgary Flames), Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Tom Fitzgerald (New Jersey Devils), Mike Grier (San Jose Sharks), Bill Guerin (Minnesota Wild), Lou Lamoriello (New York Islanders), Chris MacFarland (Colorado Avalanche), Don Waddell (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Bill Zito (Florida Panthers), will assist Kealty in assembling the roster for 2025 U.S. Men’s National Team. 

Jeff Kealty, who is in his 24th season as a member of the Nashville Predators staff, brings a wealth of experience to the 2025 U.S. Men’s National Team.

The Newton, Massachusetts, native joined the Predators as an amateur scout prior to the 2001-02 season. After six seasons, he was elevated to director of amateur scouting and spent 11 seasons in the role before being promoted to his current position of assistant general manager/director of scouting starting with the 2018-19 campaign.

Throughout his time in Nashville, the Predators have made the playoffs 16 times, including an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017. The team also captured the Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season, in 2017-18.

As a player, Kealty competed four seasons (1994-98) for Boston University where the defenseman helped the Terriers to an NCAA Division I national championship in 1995. He was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques and went on to play 71 games professionally over parts of two seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals before suffering a career-ending injury. He also represented the U.S. as a member of Team USA for the 1996 IIHF World Junior Championship.

NOTES: The U.S. is 27-11 over the last four IIHF Men’s World Championships … Team USA has medaled in four of the last 11 tournaments, its best medal stretch since a span of 11 tournaments from 1934-53.