USA Hockey names first 15 to World Championships

Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Justin Faulk of the Carolina Hurricanes and Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday were among 15 players named to the U.S. men's national team that will compete at the 2013 IIHF World Championship, May 3-19, in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden.

The first group of players named to the team includes two goaltenders, six defensemen and seven forwards. The rest of the team will be announced in the days leading to the start of the tournament.

Cal Heeter of the Philadelphia Flyers was the other goaltender named to the club. Joining Faulk on defense are Chris Butler of the Calgary Flames, Matthew Carle of the Lightning, Matt Hunwick of the Colorado Avalanche, Jamie McBain of the Hurricanes and Jeff Petry of the Edmonton Oilers.

Forwards named in addition to Stastny include Nick Bjugstad of the Florida Panthers, Bobby Butler and Craig Smith of the Nashville Predators, Nate Thompson of the Lightning, Danny Kristo of the Montreal Canadiens and Tim Stapleton of HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL.

Heeter and Kristo currently are in the American Hockey League, with the Adirondack Phantoms and Hamilton Bulldogs, respectively.

Colorado's Joe Sacco will coach the team, with Phil Housley, Danton Cole and Tim Army serving as assistants.