Will Smith, Cole Hutson among five additions to USA’s 2025 World Championship team

A few young faces will be donning the red, white and blue overseas next week.

On Wednesday, USA Hockey announced a few additions to its roster for the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship. San Jose Sharks rookie Will Smith, New York Rangers forward Brett Berard and Utah Hockey Club forward Josh Doan have been added to the roster. Also, Washington Capitals prospect Cole Hutson and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Isaac Howard will be joining the team as training camp is set to begin in Germany on Friday.

For Smith, this will be his second go-around at the Men’s Worlds. The former Boston College star joined the American squad in Czechia last year after an incredible freshman season in Chestnut Hill, leading the country with 71 points. Smith played in five games for the U.S. in the 2024 tournament, failing to score a point.

The Lexington, Massachusetts native was taken by the Sharks fourth overall in last year’s NHL Draft and had a respectable first year in the league. Smith scored 45 points in 74 games, good enough for fourth on the Sharks in scoring.

The rest of the players will make their debut with the senior national team. Howard’s stock is high after winning the Hobey Baker Award. The Michigan State junior finished as one of the top scorers in the Big Ten Conference, scoring a career-high 52 points, leading the Spartans to a second straight sweep of the Big Ten championships.

Smith and Howard were on the U.S. National Junior Team that took home the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, as well as winning silver at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.

Hutson filled the skates that his brother Lane left when he joined the Montreal Canadiens. Cole led Boston University all the way to the NCAA Championship game, losing to now U.S. WJC teammate Hampton Slukynsky and Western Michigan earlier this month. With 48 points in 39 games with the Terriers, Hutson was a First-Team All-American, winning the Tim Taylor Award as the best rookie in college hockey.

On top of that, Hutson was on the United States squad that won gold at the World Juniors in Ottawa back in January.

Hutson and Smith were on the U-18 team that won gold in 2023.

Doan has never played for Team USA at any level. The Scottsdale, Arizona native is coming off his second full season with UHC – formerly the Arizona Coyotes. Doan scored a career-high 19 points in 51 games.

Berard last wore his nation’s colors at the 2022 World Juniors. The East Greenwich, Connecticut native won gold with the U.S. at the tournament the year before. Berard just finished his second full season with the Rangers organization, splitting time between the Blueshirts and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

The Americans will be coached by San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky. They will be playing in Group B, which begins play in Herning, Denmark. They will be playing the hosts in their first game on May 9. The U.S. finished fifth in last year’s tournament in Czechia.