U.S. adds three players for World Championships

USA Hockey said Friday that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson and forward Aaron Palushaj, and Winnipeg Jets rookie defenseman Jacob Trouba have been added to the team that will compete at next month's World Championship.

Johnson has played for six U.S. National Teams, including the 2010 Olympic team that took the silver medal in Vancouver. Palushaj represented Team USA at the 2009 World Junior Championship.

They will be playing for their coach with the Avalanche, Joe Sacco, who will be the bench boss when the 16-team tournament begins in Helsinki and Stockholm on May 3.

Trouba has won a gold medal at three of the four IIHF World Championship events in which he has competed. Most recently, he was an alternate captain for the gold medal-winning U.S. squad at the 2013 World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia, where he was named the tournament's best defenseman.

The first 15 players for the National Team were announced on April 24. Team USA now has eight forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders on its roster. The maximum roster size is 25, which includes three goaltenders and 22 forwards and defensemen.