Latest news with #Werenski
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Team USA Wins Gold & Honours Johnny Gaudreau At 2025 World Championships
Team USA won the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Championships. After defeating Switzerland 1-0 in overtime, they snapped a 92-year drought without winning gold at the Worlds. When Team USA captain Clayton Keller went up to accept the trophy, he was joined by Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski, Buffalo Sabres' Tage Thompson, Nashville Predators' Brady Skjei and Vancouver Canucks' Connor Garland — all carrying a Gaudreau jersey. Advertisement They placed the jersey over the trophy in honour of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who tragically passed away before the 2024-25 season. All year long, Team USA found ways to honour the Gaudreau brothers — including keeping Johnny's sweater hanging in his locker stall throughout the tournament. It's been a strong year for USA Hockey on the international stage, and it ended with a gold medal at the Worlds to finally end the 92-year wait. As mentioned, Werenski was part of the gold-winning team. That's exactly why he committed to going — he wanted to bring a gold medal back home before what will be a busy summer of weddings, including his own. Advertisement In the tournament, he finished with one goal and five assists for six points, was a +8, and had 21 shots on goal. Werenski will now shift his attention to his wedding. As for the Blue Jackets' organization and fans, focus turns to the NHL Draft on June 27th and 28th, followed by one of the most important free agencies in franchise history. Former Blue Jacket Original Inducted Into IIHF Hall Of Fame Former Blue Jacket Original Inducted Into IIHF Hall Of Fame Another Former Blue Jacket O.G. has been given another high honor. 2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Matt Grzelcyk 2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Matt Grzelcyk This summer, Spencer Lazary and I will continue our series with more potential free agent targets that could be on the market on July 1st. Former Blue Jackets Forward Lands GM Job With Metro Rival New York Islanders Former Blue Jackets Forward Lands GM Job With Metro Rival New York Islanders Former Columbus Blue Jacket original Mathieu Darche now has the big job. 2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Reilly Smith 2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Reilly Smith This summer, Advertisement Jason Newland and I will continue our series looking at potential free agent targets who could be available on July 1. 2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Brandon Tanev 2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Brandon Tanev This summer, Spencer Lazary and I will continue our series with more potential free agent targets that could be on the market on July 1st. Blue Jackets Players Eliminated As Canada Suffers Massive Upset At Worlds Blue Jackets Players Eliminated As Canada Suffers Massive Upset At Worlds The Columbus Blue Jackets' players from Team Canada are heading home.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zach Werenski Says Johnny Gaudreau ‘Deserves This Gold Medal More Than Anyone'
Zach Werenski had a great World Championship. He missed the first couple of games but it was no coincidence that the U.S. team got much better after he arrived. In seven games, Werenski had six points and was voted to the tournament all-star team by accredited media and named Top Defenseman by the tournament directorate. But more importantly, the USA won the gold medal for the first time since 1933. 'We've put a lot of work in these past couple of weeks,' Werenski said after the game. 'It's a really close group and the U.S. hasn't done this in a long time, so we're just really happy that we're the group to do it and it feels amazing.' With the final game against Switzerland scoreless after 60 minutes, Werenski said, 'I thought we had a quiet confidence in our room. We were focused, we knew someone was going to be the hero in that room, and it was Tage (Thompson) tonight. 'That's a really good hockey team over there, they didn't give us much, I felt like it was a pretty even game, Tage makes a great play in overtime, Sway (goaltender Jeremy Swayman) makes a lot of great saves to keep us in it all game and we came out on the right side.' Zach Werenski: 'Olympics Still A Long Way Off' After initially declining an invitation to play at this year's IIHF World Championship, Zach Werenski had a change of heart and the US team is thankful for that. The Columbus Blue Jackets' defenseman has four points in four games since joining the team, as the USA got progressively better throughout the group stage. The team finished second in Group B after a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Czechia on Tuesday. Still holding the Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey, the one the U.S. players took with them to accept the championship trophy, Werenski was asked about that moment. 'Yeah, it was pretty emotional,' he said. 'I think he leads the U.S. in points here, he always came to this tournament with a smile on his face and I learned a lot from him, so I feel like he deserves this gold medal more than anyone, and he was with us the whole time.' Gaudreau played in five World Championships for the USA, winning a bronze medal in 2018. He leads the USA all-time with 30 assists and 43 points – one more than Patrick Kane in each case. Gaudreau and Werenski were Columbus Blue Jackets teammates for two seasons. At around 11:30 PM local time in Sweden, Werenski was asked how he and his teammates were going to celebrate the win. 'We're going to have some fun tonight but I think I have a 3 AM taxi to the airport, so I'm running out of time here. We'll see what happens.' Photo © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images: Johnny Gaudreau (left) and Zach Werenski playing together for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023-24. Tage Thompson's OT Goal 'Didn't Feel Real; It Still Doesn't' Like a lot of the members of the team that represented the USA at this year's IIHF World Championship, Tage Thompson has had success at the U-18 and U-20 levels internationally, but gold had eluded him at this level.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zach Werenski: ‘Olympics Still A Long Way Off'
After initially declining an invitation to play at this year's IIHF World Championship, Zach Werenski had a change of heart and the US team is thankful for that. The Columbus Blue Jackets' defenseman has four points in four games since joining the team, as the USA got progressively better throughout the group stage. The team finished second in Group B after a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Czechia on Tuesday. 'It was a big win,' Werenski said in the mixed zone after the game, as reported by Dominik Jarka of 'The Czechs are very good, which is why they won last year in Prague. It was a tough test, and fortunately we passed.' The Americans had a wide 56-27 edge in shots in the game but trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes, largely due to going 0-for-4 on the power play. The team finally scored twice with the man advantage in the third period. 'The power play suddenly started clicking,' said Werenski. 'We controlled the tempo for most of the game. We were the better team and I think we deserved to win. This was our best game of the tournament so far.' Can This Roster Break USA's World Championship Semifinal Curse? Can the team that USA Hockey has assembled to represent the country at this year's IIHF World Championship reach the final? Previous teams have appeared good enough on paper. Werenski is a big addition to this team. After a season in which he recorded 82 points in 81 NHL games, he was nominated for the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman. He downplayed suggestions that he might win the award, though. 'It sounds nice but I think I know who will win,' he smiled, referring to Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. As for his team's year, he said, 'It was a great season. It's really very unfortunate that it didn't work out in the end – we were so close to the playoffs – but I guess it wasn't meant to be. You know, we improved enormously during the year and we're definitely optimistic going into next season.' Next season also includes the Olympics, which Werenski would easily be in if the teams were chosen today. He picked up six assists in four games for the USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off this season, proving he can also produce offensively at international hockey's highest level. 'It's still a long way off so there's no point stressing about it,' he said about making the Olympic team. 'We all probably have it in the back of our minds, everyone would like to go to Milan, but I expect that how we all play at the beginning of next season will play the biggest role. 'Winning this tournament would certainly help, though,' he smiled. Adam Fantilli & Kent Johnson Asked About Elvis Merzlikins One of the interesting things about covering the IIHF World Championships as a journalist is the media presence from the different participating countries. As a nation that is crazy about hockey, Latvia always sends a significant number of journalists to cover the tournament and, like a lot of Latvians, were disappointed when Elvis Merzlikins announced that he wouldn't be representing his country this year.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Zach Werenski turns injury into inspiration with powerful Columbus comeback
Zach Werenski turns injury into inspiration with powerful Columbus comeback (Image Source: Getty Images) Zach Werenski has always been a blue-chip player for the Columbus Blue Jackets . But in recent years, he has become so much more than a hockey sensation. When he was injured in 2022, Zach Werenski spent his time off the ice doing something positive for his city. He partnered with the Blue Jackets Foundation to give back to the community. Today, he's giving back while playing the sport he loves. Zach Werenski transforms injury into an opportunity to assist others Zach Werenski got hurt in November 2022 while playing. Operation Sindoor PM Modi meets NSA, chiefs of armed forces amid spike in tensions with Pak India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan Several airports in India to be closed till May 15 - check list He took a terrible fall and strained his shoulder and was not playing the rest of the season. As he rested, he couldn't help but ask himself what he could do with his off-season time in a productive way. He had recently signed an extended contract and wanted to do more for Columbus. He sat down with the Blue Jackets Foundation and developed this concept: a unique suite in Nationwide Arena where individuals experiencing difficulties could come to enjoy a game. This became the " Z-Suite ." In its opening in April 2022, over 2,000 people signed in. The Z-Suite also asks for persons like first responders, sick children, military families, and others who are experiencing hard times to come. Werenski sometimes greets the guests and hears their stories. According to him, their smiles and bravery inspire him. Zach Werenski assists families meets fans and spreads happiness through hockey Zach Werenski has done even more off the ice. He's made donations to toy drives, assisted therapy dog programs, and supported hospitals. At the 2025 Stadium Series game, he invited a young hockey fan named Hannah to practice and game day. Another young fan, Jocelyn, once fought cancer, and now she's cancer-free. Werenski says getting to know fans like them has changed the way he sees life. He concedes that growing up, he was single-minded about hockey. But once he was hurt, he found out there was enough time to be a terrific player and be involved in the community, too. He would now like to educate younger players about how they can contribute back. Columbus is more than a city to Zach Werenski, it's a family. And with each small act of kindness, he's demonstrating the power of sports to unite people and raise spirits. Also Read: "I'll Be Making A Case For Zach Werenski": Elliot Friedman Endorses Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman For MVP
Edmonton Journal
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Canucks' Quinn Hughes closer to Norris Trophy repeat while Cale Makar, Zach Werenski also finalists
Article content Hughes led the Canucks in several categories his season including assists (60), points (76), shots on goal (192) and ice time (25 minutes 44 seconds). The 25-year-old from Orlando, Fla., became the fourth American-born defenceman to win the award last season. Makar, from Calgary, opened the season with a 13-game point streak, the second-longest by a defenseman to launch a campaign behind Bobby Orr's run of 15 games in 1973-74. The 2021-22 Norris winner went on to lead NHL blueliners in goals (30), assists (62) and points (92) en route to becoming a finalist for the award for the fifth time in six seasons. Werenski had 23 goals and 59 assists in 2024-25, becoming the first Columbus defenceman to lead the team in scoring. His 23-point improvement over last season was the biggest in the league. Werenski, from Grosse Pointe, Mich., is a Norris Trophy finalist for the first time. He was voted a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the League's top rookie in 2016-17, finishing third behind Toronto centre Auston Matthews and Winnipeg winger Patrik Laine.
