The 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s World Championship in Czechia will feature one current student-athlete and one alumnus of the University of Massachusetts hockey program.
Dans Locmelis, a rising sophomore forward at UMass, will represent Latvia in the tournament. In his first season with the Minutemen, Locmelis had an impressive rookie campaign, scoring 14 points in 30 games. He also had a successful showing at the IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped his team reach the Quarterfinal round with five points in five games. His solid play on both offense and defense was recognized as he was named one of Latvia’s top players in both 2023 and 2024.
On the other hand, Matthew Kessel (2019-22), a former Minuteman defenseman, will be skating for Team USA in the tournament. After completing his second full season of professional hockey with the St. Louis Blues organization, Kessel split time between the NHL and AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. In Springfield, he had eight points in 36 contests while also making an impact at the NHL level, recording seven points in 39 games including his first career NHL goal.
The IIHF Men’s World Championship will take place from May 10-26 in Czechia and can be watched on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada.