Another Red Wings Player Joining U.S. Team For World Championships

Jeff Petry is the third Detroit Red Wings player and the fifth member of the organization to join Team USA for the upcoming World Championships in Czechia.

The veteran defenseman joins his captain Dylan Larkin and goalie Alex Lyon, plus Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, who will be one of John Hynes’ assistant coaches and Alex Westlund who will the U.S. goalie coach. Lalonde was also an assistant coach for the U.S. squad last year.

Petry, a right-shot, will be joining a defense that boasts Seth Jones (Chicago Blackhawks) also signed up to play on the right side. The team also has commitments from left-shot D men Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets), Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators) and Alex Vlasic (Chicago Blackhawks).

Jeff Petry pulls the Red Wings to within one!#LGRW pic.twitter.com/8LhDDQEb5H

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) April 12, 2024

In addition to Larkin, the forward group includes Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa), Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens), Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild) and Johnny Gaudreau (Columbus) among others.

On paper, the Americans are putting together one of their most competitive groups in recent years. The roster includes 11 first-round NHL Draft picks and more than 5,000 games of NHL experience. The group will compete in Ostrava and Prague from May 10-26. The U.S. finished in the top four of the Men’s World Championship in seven of the last 10 tournaments with four bronze medals to its credit (2013, 2015, 2018 and 2021).

Detroit forward Lucas Raymond has committed to play for the Swedish team.

The U.S. was the world champion in 1960 because it won the Olympic tournament. Separate tournaments were not held then. But USA hasn’t won a World Championships tournament since 1933.