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Blackhawks’ Nick Schmaltz to play for Team USA at 2017 World Championship

Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Schmaltz will play for the United States at the 2017 World Championship, USA Hockey announced Thursday. The news comes a day after Chicago defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk was added to Team USA’s roster.

Both players will make their debuts at the senior level at Worlds, which runs from May 5 to 21 in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France.

Schmaltz, 21, scored six goals and 28 points in 61 games during his rookie season with Chicago. He also had nine points (six goals, three assists) in 12 games with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League during a brief stint in December.

Schmaltz has played for Team USA before at the junior level. The 6-foot, 176 pounder played at the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Championships, where he had eight points (two goals, six assists) in seven games as Team USA won bronze.

Chicago forwards Marcus Kruger (Sweden) and Artemi Panarin (Russia) will also compete at Worlds.

Group A games will be played in Cologne at Lanxess Arena (18,500 capacity) while Group B will be at AccorHotels Arena (15,000 capacity).

The Americans are Group A along with Russia, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia, Denmark and Italy. The U.S., who has won bronze twice since 2013, opens the tournament against host Germany on May 5. Team USA hasn’t reached the gold-medal game since 1960 when it defeated Canada for its second world championship.

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