Latest news with #IIHFWorldChampionships
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Why did Connor Bedard reject Team Canada's World Championship invite — and what's really behind his surprising decision?
Connor Bedard has declined an invitation to play for Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championships (Image via IMAGO/ActionPictures) Chicago Blackhawks young star Connor Bedard has opted to skip an opportunity to represent Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championships — a decision that has sparked mixed reactions among fans and insiders. While some were hoping to see Bedard extend his standout season into the international spotlight, the 19-year-old has chosen to prioritize rest and development ahead of a crucial third NHL season. Connor Bedard turns down Team Canada invite to focus on off-season training and Blackhawks goals According to a report from Scott Powers of The Athletic, Connor Bedard was indeed invited by Team Canada but 'just decided it was best to focus his offseason elsewhere.' The decision aligns with comments Bedard made during his exit interviews, where he emphasized the importance of working on his speed this summer. 'Connor Bedard won't be playing for Canada at the World Championship this year,' Powers reported on X. 'Canada actually invited him. He just decided it was best to focus his offseason elsewhere.' Bedard's second NHL season was an impressive one. He played all 82 games and came within a single point of breaking Chicago's franchise record for points by a teenager — a feat even more notable given that he missed 14 games due to injury in his rookie year. Without that setback, he likely would've shattered the mark. Despite the hype surrounding his arrival in the NHL, some observers have noted Bedard still has room to grow to fully meet the lofty expectations placed on him. But few question his long-term potential. His decision to forgo Worlds underscores a level of maturity and commitment to development not always seen in players his age. Bedard appears laser-focused on becoming the kind of franchise-altering force the Blackhawks envisioned when they selected him first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. With elite-level skill already on display and a strong offseason training regimen ahead, a breakout third year seems likely. Also Read: 'F**king cucks': Sean Avery humiliates Mitch Marner, Paul Bissonnette and Leafs Nation after playoff collapse Choosing not to wear the Team Canada jersey this time may disappoint some fans, but Bedard's message is clear: building something lasting in Chicago takes precedence. As he enters the 2025–26 season, all eyes will be on how this summer's work translates into results on the ice.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Henrik Lundqvist Opens Up About Representing Sweden Upon Receiving High Honor
Henrik Lundqvist added another impressive accolade to his resume. On Sunday, Lundqvist was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame for his time playing for the Swedish National Team. Since he was a tennager, Lundqvist has been representing Sweden on an international stage and he's widely considered to be one of the greatest Swedish goalies in NHL history. To get this high honor means a lot to the 43-year-old who cherished every time he got to put on the yellow and blue jersey. 'One day I want to play there, wear that blue and yellow jersey,' Lundqvist said. 'And the thought of playing for my country was such a big dream, the inspiration growing up that really pushed me in so many ways.' Lundqvist has won one gold and two silver medals in the IIHF World Championships, the Honken Trophy (the Swedish equivalent to the Vezina Trophy) three consecutive times from 2003-05, and a Guldpucken (Swedish MVP Trophy) during the 2004-05 campaign. By the end of his illustrious career, Lundqvist had recorded 459 wins, the sixth most wins out of all goalies in NHL history and first among European goalies. 'Playing on the international stage was always important to me,' Lundqvist said. 'It's hard to describe the feeling of what it's like to put this on. It's pride, excitement, and that feeling never changed for the next 20 years. 'Some of my best moments as an athlete, as a person I would say, have been wearing this jersey — winning world championships, the Olympics, such big moments.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johnny Gaudreau Becomes Emotional Focus of U.S. Hockey After They Win First Gold at Worlds in 92 Years
The United States hockey team won gold at the IIHF World Championships for the first time in 92 years on Sunday, May 25 The team emotionally honored Johnny Gaudreau on the ice after the victory "This gold goes to him and the legacy that he's paved," goalie Jeremy Swayman saidTeam USA's gold medal win at the IIHF World Championships was full of emotion as the team paid tribute to their late teammate Johnny Gaudreau, who tragically died in August 2024 alongside his brother Matthew. As the United States celebrated the country's first win at the tournament in 92 years on Sunday, May 25 after they defeated Switzerland in a 1-0 victory, Gaudreau's presence was felt in the arena, as his teammates held up his No. 13 jersey on the ice. In a touching video shared on the IIHF Instagram account, defenseman Zach Werenski was seen leaving the ice shortly after receiving his gold medal. Werenski, 27, then emerged from the locker room holding Gaudreau's jersey so his teammates could display it front and center in their victory photos. Meredith Gaudreau, who shares three children with the late NHL star, shared multiple photos and videos from the celebration, including one where she wrote, "All for you," on her Instagram Story over a video of the Team USA players honoring her husband. Werenski, who also played alongside Gaudreau on the Columbus Blue Jackets, spoke to afterwards, explaining that Gaudreau would have been playing with Team USA on Sunday if it weren't for the tragedy last August. "He's a guy that if he wasn't in the playoffs, he was here playing for USA Hockey," "Werenski said. "I think that's what every USA hockey player should strive to be. No one deserves this gold medal more than him." Weresnki said it's "been awesome" to honor Gaudreau with his teammates, "especially tonight after winning," he added. "It makes me emotional thinking about it, but it's an awesome way to honor him," said Werenski, who also shared he thinks about Gaudreau before "every game" he plays. "I think about him before I go on the ice every game," Werenski said, per "I see his jersey hanging there. In Columbus, it hangs there. Last year's tournament was the last time I got to play with him and share the ice with him. He deserves this. I'm just really happy to get a gold medal for him this year." Werenski was also the recipient of the coveted beanie that Team USA awards to the player of the game. On her Instagram Story, Meredith said she was hoping Werenski "would get the next Johnny beanie." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Goalie Jeremy Swayman said after the game that the team was determined to win gold in honor of Gaudreau, who represented the United States five times at the World Championship. "We did it for a reason. We had a purpose," Swayman, 26, told "We had a great game plan, we were building every single game. We knew there was something special in this room, but the biggest thing was having Johnny Gaudreau in our room, too." "This gold goes to him and the legacy that he's paved for all USA hockey players," Swayman continued. "That was something that we were really backing behind. In every single game we knew that he was with us and had our spirit, so this gold is for him." Gaudreau continues to make a positive impact on his teammates, said Swayman. "He would be here, obviously. We miss him terribly. What he's done for the game, what he's done for USA Hockey ... he's paved the way for a lot of kids like me. It was just really special to get the job done. Mission accomplished, for him." Brady Skjei, defenseman for Team USA and the Nashville Predators, said Gaudreau has "been a part of" their team "this whole time," after the game. "To honor him in that way was amazing. Johnny was an amazing person," Skjei said, per "A bunch of us knew him really well. To honor him ... he was such a key person and player for USA Hockey for years. To honor him like that ... I think he's watching us right now and he's very proud." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stian Solberg Dazzles at World Championship, Keeps Norway from Relegation
Stian Solberg solidified himself as a no-doubt first-round selection and one of the top European defensemen in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft following his performance at the 2024 IIHF World Championships, where he represented his native Norway.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Daily Mail
US hockey team honors late Johnny Gaudreau with emotional tribute after winning IIHF World Championship
After winning gold at the IIHF World Championships for the first time in 92 years, the players on the United States hockey team honored a player who should have been there alongside them. Team USA won the gold medal in Sweden on Sunday evening - knocking off Switzerland in overtime to win the title for the first time since 1933. At the trophy presentation ceremony, the American players brought along a mocked up USA No. 13 jersey with the name Gaudreau on the back in honor of the late Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau. It's been nearly nine months since the tragic killing of Johnny and his brother Matthew Gaudreau by a drunk driver in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. The brothers were out riding bikes at night when they were both rear-ended by a driver trying to pass other cars on the shoulder of a rural highway. Both brothers were pronounced dead at the scene. Johnny was 31-years-old and Matthew was 29. USA Hockey players hold up a jersey with Johnny Gaudreau's name and number on the back after winning the IIHF World Championship gold medal over Switzerland in Sweden One of the two players whose hands were holding up the jersey at the trophy ceremony in Sweden was Zach Werenski - a teammate of Johnny's on the Blue Jackets. The other was Nashville Predators defenseman Brady Skjei - who was in the running for the team the US sent to the 2013 World Juniors, where Gaudreau starred. Sean Higgins was indicted by a grand jury in December of six charges related to the crash but his attorneys asked Tuesday that the indictment be thrown out. However, Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio denied that request with the case now set to move forward. Higgins' attorneys argued that the prosecution had not presented evidence of the brothers' blood-alcohol levels to the grand jury. According to the defense, the Gaudreaus had blood-alcohol levels of .129 or above, higher than the .08 legal limit in New Jersey and the .087 that police recorded for Higgins. Prosecutors argued it wasn't relevant under New Jersey law. 'We believe these filings are essential to ensuring that our client's Constitutional rights are protected and that he is not being treated unfairly based upon the amount of publicity being garnered,' Higgins' attorneys, Richard F. Klineburger III and Matthew V. Portella, previously said in a statement. Salem County prosecutors noted that there is no law banning cycling while intoxicated in New Jersey, and that witnesses said the brothers were riding single-file on the edge of the road, not weaving into traffic. Prosecutors have accused Higgins of being impaired by alcohol and fueled by road rage when he ran into them. The Gaudreau brothers were killed on August 29 in Oldmans Township, N.J., where they had traveled to attend their sister Katie's wedding scheduled for the following day. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29. In documents seen by Higgins admitted to cops that he drank '5-6 beers' before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the back of Johnny and Matthew. A driver in front of Higgins also told police that he had been driving aggressively. When she and another driver slowed down and moved to the left to go around the cyclists, Higgins sped up and veered right before striking the brothers, she said. Higgins told officers that on the day of his arrest, he had been driving around for two hours while talking to a friend on the phone after having an upsetting conversation with his mother. As for the game, the US won 1-0 over Switzerland in overtime thanks to a goal from Buffalo Sabres star forward Tage Thompson. Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman kept a shutout after facing 25 shots from the Swiss team. It's the Americans' third gold medal and their first in decades at the tournament which doesn't feature the A-Teams of most of the nations involved. The World Championships begin and end in the midst of the Stanley Cup Playoffs - which often prevents participating nations from picking from their full roster pool. Team USA came second in the tournament's Group B and then beat Finland and host nation Sweden in the playoff round before Sunday's final. While the Americans suffered defeat in the NHL's '4 Nations Face-Off', the 2024-25 hockey season can be considered a great success for Team USA. In addition to the IIHF Men's World Championships, America won the IIHF Women's World Championships and the IIHF World Junior Championships this season.
