In the upcoming 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s World Championship, two former University of Massachusetts hockey players will be representing their respective nations. Rising sophomore forward Dans Locmelis will be playing for Latvia, while former Minuteman defenseman Matthew Kessel (2019-22) will be skating with Team USA.
Dans Locmelis had a standout freshman year at UMass, scoring 14 points in 30 games, including one power-play goal and one game-winning goal. He also won over half of his faceoffs at a 55% clip and blocked seven shots. Locmelis has been a key player for Latvia in international competition, earning recognition as one of his country’s Top 3 players in both the 2023 and 2024 World Junior Championships. He helped lead Latvia to the Quarterfinal round in the 2024 tournament with five points in five games.
On the other hand, Matthew Kessel recently completed his second full season of professional hockey with the St. Louis Blues organization, splitting time between the NHL and AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. In the NHL, he appeared in 39 games and recorded seven points, including his first career NHL goal. In Springfield, he had eight points in 36 contests. Kessel has represented Team USA in several international tournaments and is looking forward to competing on the world stage once again.
The IIHF Men’s World Championship will take place in Czechia from May 10-26 and can be watched on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada. Both Locmelis and Kessel are excited to represent their countries and showcase their skills on an international stage.