Defenseman Noah Hanifin (Boston, MA) will be the Hurricanes' lone representative for the United States, who open group play on May 5 at LANXESS Arena in Cologne against host Germany. Hanifin, a product of the United States National Team Development Program, won gold with Team USA at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2014 U18 World Junior Championship, and has also represented the U.S. at the 2015 World Junior Championship and the 2016 IIHF World Championship.
Forward Sebastian Aho, who played for Finland's men's team at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, will take the ice for his home country when it opens the tournament against Belarus in Paris on May 5. Markham, Ont., native Jeff Skinner will be participating in the tournament for the fourth time, as Canada opens play against the Czech Republic on May 5 at AccorHotels Arena in Paris.
Four Hurricanes will wear the blue and gold of Sweden at the tournament. Forwards Elias Lindholm and Victor Rask, teammates on Sweden's bronze-medal-winning team at the 2015 IIHF World Championships, will each make their second appearance with the men's national team. Lindholm also won silver medals with Sweden at the 2012 U18 World Junior Championship as well as the 2013 and 2014 World Junior Championships. Joakim Nordstrom, who played on Sweden's gold-medal-winning team at the 2012 World Junior Championship, will be making his debut at the IIHF World Championship. Goaltender Eddie Lack will be representing his country for the first time at any level. Sweden plays its tournament opener against Russia in Cologne on May 5.
