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2025 Sled Worlds Insider | Almost Friday

By USA Hockey, 05/29/25, 5:00PM EDT

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The 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship will be held May 24-31, at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y. Scroll for an inside look at the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team's journey during the eight-nation tournament featuring the best sled hockey players in the world.

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Thursday, May 29 | Almost Friday

The U.S. National Sled Team took the ice Thursday afternoon for its last practice of the tournament ahead of tomorrow’s semifinal tilt against China. Puck drop is slated for 5 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on USAHockeyTV.com. Fans can purchase tickets here.

After practice and media availability wrapped up, the team met for a video session and meeting with the coaches before the whirlwind schedule of games set for the next 48 hours, including Saturday’s medal-round contests. 

PLAYING FAVORITES – Kayden Beasley

Throughout the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re calling, “Playing Favorites.” Today, it’s Kayden Beasley, who’s making his World Para Ice Hockey Championship debut in 2025.

Favorite wing flavor? – I don’t really eat wings a lot. 

Favorite travel destination? -  I want to go to Switzerland.

Favorite hockey moment? – Playing with the National Team for the first time in Ostrava, Czechia, earlier this year

Favorite hockey rink? – This one is pretty nice, the Harborcenter. It’s connected to the hotel it’s great.

Favorite drill in practice? – I think they are all good, I don’t have a favorite.

Favorite team nickname? – Chevy. Josh Misiewciz.

Wednesday, May 28 | Calm Before the Storm

Wednesday (May 28) marked the final full day away from the rink of the tournament for the squad, and the players took advantage by sleeping in with breakfast being made optional by the staff. 

Several members of the team took part in interviews over the course of the day with various media outlets and documentary crews on-site covering the event, while others hit the gym or explored downtown Buffalo. 

Tuesday, May 27 | Take Me Out to the Ballgame

After winning its third and final preliminary-round game over Czechia on Tuesday (May 27), the U.S. National Sled Team walked up the street to Sahlen Field, home of the Buffalo Bisons, the AAA MiLB affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, to watch the Bisons take on the Charlotte Knights. 

Captain Josh Pauls threw out the first pitch, and the team enjoyed $2 hot dog night at the ballpark with an off day on the horizon. 

USA 4, Czechia 3

The U.S. Sled National Team earned a hard fought 4-3 victory against Czechia in its final preliminary-round game at the LECOM Harborcenter. 

With the win, the U.S. wins group B with a perfect 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L). Team USA will play in the semifinals on Friday (May 30) against China. Puck drop is slated for 5 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on USAHockeyTV.com. Fans can purchase tickets here.

The full game recap can be found here.

Monday, May 26 | Off Day

After getting out to a hot start, with a 2-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record and tournament-best +25 goal differential through two games at the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship, Team USA got a day away from the rink on Memorial Day on Monday (May 26) to rest up and explore the city of Buffalo ahead of the third and final preliminary round contest against Czechia on Tuesday (May 27). 

The winner of Tuesday’s game will finish preliminary-round play with the top seed in Group B. Fans can purchase tickets here. The game will stream live on USAHockeyTV.com and Peacock.

PLAYING FAVORITES – Kevin McKee

Throughout the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re calling, “Playing Favorites.” Today, it’s forward Kevin McKee.

Favorite wing flavor? – Just mild, plain buffalo sauce. With blue cheese.

Favorite travel destination? -  Prince Edward Island

Favorite hockey moment? – Winning the gold medal at the 2018 Paralympics

Favorite hockey rink? – LECOM Harborcenter

Favorite drill in practice? – Rebound against the goalies

Favorite team nickname? – Softy, Malik Jones. 

Sunday, May 25 | 200 For Spuds

Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) tallied his 200th career point, Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) scored four goals, and Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) recorded a seven-point hat trick to lead the U.S. National Sled Team to a 13-0 victory over Slovakia in the preliminary round here today at LECOM Harborcenter. 

“I liked how we spread the scoring out,” said David Hoff, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team. “When we have everyone going, we are really though to stop, and we set the tone early on today.”

For a full game recap, click here

Saturday, May 24 | Game One

Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Evan Nichols (Haymarket, Va.) and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) each scored multiple goals to help lift the U.S. National Sled Team to a 12-0 victory in its opening game here today at LECOM Harborcenter.

“I think it was a great start to the tournament,” said David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D), head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team. “Now, it’s just about progressing and continuing to build off that performance.”

For a full game recap, click here.

Friday, May 23 | Picture Day

Team USA took the ice for its third and final practice ahead of its first contest of the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship, against Norway, set for 1:30 p.m. ET tomorrow at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo N.Y.

Fans can purchase tickets here, and wacth every game live on USAHockeyTV.com

Prior to Friday training sessions, the U.S. and the other seven teams competing for gold in Buffalo took head shots and team photos. 

Later in the afternoon, Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) joined Canada’s Tyler McGregor for a Paralympics trivia video shoot for the International Paralympic Committee. Jen Lee (San Francisco, Calif.), Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), and Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) all took part in the IPC video shoot as well. 

PLAYING FAVORITES - JOSH PAULS

Throughout the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship, you’ll have a chance to learn about Team USA players and staff in a feature we’re calling, “Playing Favorites.” Today, it’s defenseman and team captain Josh Pauls.

Favorite wing flavor? - I'm a medium guy, but I have to have ranch and I know that's really frowned upon in Buffalo.

Favorite travel destination? -  In the summer, it'd have to be Canada, I'd love to go back to Vancouver, haven't been since 2010. But Europe is always awesome.

Favorite hockey moment? - Watching Declan Farmer score the game-tying goal in the 2018 Paralympics gold-medal game and immediately telling everyone to calm down and that we still had 37 seconds left, that was a cool moment.

Favorite hockey rink? - It's so biased, but the LECOM Harborcenter because of how great the connected hotel setup is. I can't wait to watch so much sled hockey live this week, it's gonna be awesome.

Favorite drill in practice? - Win the Blue. You have to work to get out of the zone. It's such a great simulation of working to get the puck put of the zone in the game.

Favorite team nickname? - Mine's pretty good (Spuds), but it has to be Evan "Mumsy" Nichols.

Thursday, May 22 | Welcome Reception

After breakfast at the hotel, the team took the ice Thursday morning for its second practice session of the tournament. 

After practice, the squad returned back to the hotel for lunch and a quiet afternoon before Thursday night’s Toyota Welcome Reception Dinner at Southern Tier Buffalo, where they were joined by players and staff from every team in the tournament to celebrate the event. 

Wednesday, May 21 | Let’s Go Buffalo

After gathering from across the country in Buffalo, N.Y., last night, the U.S. National Sled Team arrived today (May 21) at LECOM Harborcenter for the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship as it begins its quest for a record seventh World Championship. Fans can purchase tickets online here. Every U.S. game will stream live, exclusively on USAHockeyTV.com

After getting settled the rink, the squad had it’s first practice of the tournament, a one-hour skate led by head coach David Hoff. 

As the players headed back to the hotel, they recreated “Hot Ones”, answering Buffalo trivia while trying some world-famous buffalo wings, varying in spice levels, courtesy of the Buffalo Sabres.  

Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Malik Jones (Aurora, Colo.), and Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) all flew in yesterday (May 20) from Los Angeles after wrapping up the 2025 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Promotional Shoot, where they took part in a content shoot for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan. 

The U.S. National Sled Team enters the competition with a 13-1-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) on the 2024-25 season as it gears up for its first preliminary round game on Saturday (May 24) against Norway.


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