Another Team USA Defensemen Declines the Invite to Join the Team

The 2025 IIHF Championships are right on the horizon, and with the 2026 Olympic Games next February, there are some key battles that could take place when the tournament begins in Sweden and Denmark in late May.

After a tough finish at the Four Nations Face Off, Team USA is out for revenge and a gold medal, and with one of the deepest playing groups in international hockey, they've got a good chance to chase gold.

However, after Quinn Hughes declined the invite to the team, another key defenseman has now withdrawn from consideration to the team, with the announcement that Zach Werenski won't be partaking in the very important tournament.

According to Blue Jackets reporter Aaron Portzline, the decision for Werenski was due to the business of his summer with several friends getting married, although he did call it a 'tough decision' to say no to Team USA.

Even without both Hughes and Werenski, this is one of the deepest groups in all of hockey, with the likes of Adam Fox, Noah Hanifin and many, many others all potentially ready to play for the team, and while it's not quite as big as the Olympics, it's very important to all of these players.

We will continue to keep you update on the key ins and outs for the IIHF World Championships, and while Team USA have missed out on several key players, they are still shaping up to be one of the top contenders at the tournament.