Three Gopher Hockey alums have been named to the 2022 U.S. Men's National Team as Vinni Lettieri, Ben Meyers and Nate Schmidt will represent the Red, White & Blue at the upcoming IIHF Men's World Championship in Finland.

The international tournament, which runs from May 13-29 in Tampere and Helsinki, will see Team USA compete in Group B alongside France, Czech Republic, Finland, Great Britain, Latvia, Norway and Sweden. All Group B preliminary round games will take place at Nokia Arena in Tampere while Group A (Canada, ROC, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, Kazakhstan and Italy) will play at the Helsinki Ice Hall. Tournament semi-finals, bronze and gold medal games will be played in Tampere.

The U.S. is coming off a bronze medal in the 2021 tournament while the Red, White & Blue have earned 13 podium finishes with one gold medal (1933), four silver medals (1931, 1934, 1939, 1950) and eight bronze medals (1949, 1952, 1996, 2004, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2021).

A native of Excelsior, Minn., Lettieri played in 149 career games at Minnesota with 83 points (37 goals, 46 assists) and was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection as a senior. The four-year NHL veteran has skated in 82 games with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) and is coming off a career-best campaign with the Anaheim Ducks that saw the forward tally 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 31 games.

A native of Delano, Minn., Meyers concluded his college career this season as Minnesota's first Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick finalist since 2002 while also earning Big Ten Player of the Year, Second Team All-America and unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honors. In three years with Minnesota, the forward recorded 95 points (39 goals, 56 assists) in 102 games. Meyers signed with the Colorado Avalanche following the season and scored a goal in his pro debut with the organization. This will be Meyers' second career international event with USA Hockey after debuting at the Winter Olympics this year.

A native of St. Cloud, Minn., Schmidt spent three years with the Maroon & Gold – earning Second Team All-America honors as a junior as well as two all-conference accolades. In 96 career games, the defenseman tallied 74 points (12 goals, 62 assists) before embarking on an NHL career that has spanned nine seasons. Schmidt has skated in 527 regular-season NHL games with 187 points (38 goals, 149 assists) including 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) in 77 games with the Winnipeg Jets this season. He has added 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 68 career Stanley Cup playoff games.