23 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2025 UNITED STATES MEN’S NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TEAM
Team Set to Compete in 2025 Winter World University Games
TROY, Mich. (November 14, 2024) – The 23-player roster for the United States Men’s National University Team that will compete in the 2025 Winter World University Games from January 13-23 in Torino, Italy, was announced today by American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
“We are really happy with how the final roster came together,” said Gary Astalos (Adrian, Mich.), head coach of the U.S. Men’s National University Team. “We have a very diverse group of players who we feel can be very successful on the international stage.”
The complete roster, which includes three goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards, is comprised of players that compete in American Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s Division I.
Six returning players from the 2023 World Cup of Hockey gold medal winning team highlight the U.S. roster, including defensemen Christian Kadolph (Brainerd, Minn./Minot State University) and Lazarus Kaebel (Prior Lake, Minn./Liberty University), forwards Jay Buchholz (Fargo, N.D./Minot State University), Dylan Gajewski (Woodhaven, Mich./Adrian College), Jacob Kalandyk (Saginaw, Mich./Liberty University), and Sebastian Smith (Pinckney, Mich./Adrian College).
U.S. Men’s National University Team Schedule
Winter World University Games – Jan. 13-23, 2024 – Torino, Italy
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (Local/ET) |
| Sun., Jan. 12 | Poland | Torre Pelice | 4:30 p.m./10:00 a.m. |
| Tues., Jan. 14 | Japan | Torre Pelice | 4:30 p.m./6:00 a.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 15 | Slovakia | Torre Pelice | 8:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. |
| Fri., Jan. 17 | Ukraine | Torre Pelice | 8:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. |
| Sun., Jan. 19 | Quarterfinals, TBD | Torre Pelice/Pinerolo | TBD |
| Tue., Jan. 21 | Semifinals, TBD | Torino | TBD |
| Wed., Jan. 22 | Championship, TBD | Torino | TBD |
NOTES: Eleven different states are represented on the U.S. roster, with six players coming from Michigan and five from Minnesota. Other states represented include Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, and Washington… The 23 players represent 10 different schools. Liberty University leads the way with five representatives, Adrian College and Purdue University Northwest have three players, while Grand Canyon University, Minot State University, Ohio University, University of Arizona, and University of Nevada-Las Vegas each has two representatives. Maryville University and Missouri State University each have one representative… Astalos is serving as head coach of the 2025 U.S. Men’s National University Team alongside assistant coaches Wyatt Waselenchuk (Minot, N.D.), head coach at Minot State University, and Chad Berman (Tucson, Ariz.), head coach at University of Arizona… The United States is fielding a men’s hockey team at the Winter World University Games for the 15th time. This marks the first time since 2019 and the 11th time overall that the ACHA will be sending a men’s team to represent the U.S… At the 2025 Winter World University Games, ice hockey competitions start two days earlier on January 11. Team USA is competing in Group A alongside Japan, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Canada, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Sweden make up Group B. Preliminary and quarterfinal games will be played at Cotta Morandini Ice Stadium in Torre Pelice, while the gold and bronze medal matches will take place at Palatazzoli Pista in Torino… For complete coverage of the U.S. at the 2025 Winter World University Games, click here.
For more information, please contact ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett at cbarnett@achahockey.org.
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ABOUT AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
The ACHA was founded in 1991 and is the national association for non-NCAA collegiate hockey throughout the United States. Our organization of more than 480 colleges and university-affiliated teams representing 46 states provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the sport of Hockey nationwide. With approximately 13,000 players and coaches as well as countless volunteers and game officials, the ACHA has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade and continues to be a viable option for college bound student-athletes to continue playing competitive hockey nationwide. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., the ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth of Collegiate Hockey while emphasizing academic performance, personal development, and opportunities for regional, national, and international competition. The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and is entering its 34th season in September 2024. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
