Ryker Lee and Isaac Howard join a talent-heavy squad in Switzerland as the United States fights to defend its gold medal and continue a historic international winning streak.
United States sports has been on a heater in 2026. Outside of a wild loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Team USA has seemingly taken home every major victory imaginable, including gold medals at the Winter Olympics in both men’s and women’s ice hockey.
Now, another talented group will don the red, white and blue as Team USA looks to repeat as IIHF Men’s World Champions, hoping to pick up right where the 2025 squad left off. That team captured the gold medal for the first time in Team USA history since the current playoff format was introduced in 1992.
Not only will Team USA attempt to defend its title, but there is also a strong Michigan State presence on the preliminary roster. Spartans Ryker Lee and Isaac Howard were both named to Team USA’s preliminary roster ahead of the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
The tournament will be held in Zurich, Switzerland from May 15-31.
Representing Team USA is nothing new for Lee, as he suited up for the United States earlier this year during the IIHF World Junior Championship. Lee played in every game for Team USA and finished the tournament with two goals, one assist and three points while posting a minus-one rating.
Lee also scored one of the most memorable goals of the tournament for Team USA. With less than two minutes remaining in the preliminary round matchup against Finland and the United States trailing 3-2, Lee buried the game-tying goal after the puck found him in the middle of the ice. His wrister beat the Finnish goaltender and instantly turned the game into a classic. Finland ultimately went on to win the game in overtime, ending Team USA’s run.
Lee was selected 26th overall in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators.
Howard, the former Michigan State star and Hobey Baker Award winner two years ago, also earned a spot on the preliminary roster.
Howard previously represented Team USA during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship as well, where he played in seven games and totaled seven goals and two assists for nine points. He helped lead Team USA to the first of what became back-to-back gold medal championships before Lee’s squad came up short the following year.
Howard was originally drafted 31st overall in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning before eventually being moved to Edmonton prior to making his NHL debut. This season, Howard appeared in 29 games with the Oilers, recording two goals and three assists for five points while finishing with a minus-six rating.
This year’s Hobey Baker Award winner, Max Plante of the Detroit Red Wings organization, was also named to the preliminary roster, setting the stage for what should be an exciting tournament for Team USA.
Michigan State continues to show its strength on the national stage, and now the Spartans will look to help Team USA bring home back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF Men’s World Championship.