Dylan Larkin, Alex Lyon will represent USA at world championships

Detroit — Dylan Larkin and Alex Lyon aren't yet done playing hockey this spring.

The two Red Wings will present Team USA at the upcoming 2024 IIHF men's world championships in Ostrava and Prague, Czechia.

The first 15 players were announced Wednesday by USA Hockey in what is one of the stronger rosters for the world championships in recent years.

The group includes 11 first-round NHL draft picks and more than 5,000 games of NHL experience.

This will be Larkin's sixth appearance at the world championships, having played for five consecutive years from 2015-19). Larkin had an exceptional season with the Wings, despite missing 14 games. Larkin had 33 goals and 36 assists, producing 69 points in only 68 games.

Larkin will likely be part of the leadership group on this roster, as he was in the last appearances with Team USA in this tournament.

Lyon had a career-best season, after signing as an unrestricted free agent last summer. Expected to be the organization's third-string goalie, Lyon wound up starting 43 games and playing to a 21-18-5 record, 3.05 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.

Lyon was the only goaltender announced Wednesday among the first 15 players revealed.

Along with Larkin, other Michigan natives on the roster include defensemen Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe/Columbus Blue Jackets) and Luke Hughes (Canton/New Jersey Devils).

Forwards Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa), Matt Boldy (Minnesota), Johnny Gaudreau (Columbus), Cole Caufield (Montreal), Joel Farabee (Philadelphia), Trevor Zegras (Anaheim), Shane Pinto (Ottawa) and Luke Kunin (San Jose), and defensemen Jake Sanderson (Ottawa), Seth Jones and Alex Vlasic (both Chicago) round out the first 15 players selected by Team USA.

"We've got an outstanding start to our roster," said Team USA general manager Brett Peterson, who is the assistant GM for the Florida Panthers. "There's a lot of excitement among our players, and everyone is looking forward to representing our country in the world championship."

Team USA will train in Bratislava, Slovakia, starting May 5 and play a pre-tournament game there against Slovakia on May 7. The U.S. will open play in the tournament against Sweden on May 10 in Ostrava, Czechia, at 8:20 p.m. local time (2:20 p.m. ET).

All U.S. games in the tournament will air live on NHL Network.

The U.S. has finished in the top four of the IIHF men's world championship in seven of the last 10 tournaments with four bronze medals to its credit (2013, 2015, 2018, 2021).

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan