The ECHL is represented by 29 players in the 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, which begins today and runs through May 25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark.
There is at least one former ECHL player on 13 of the 16 teams in the tournament, led by six players appearing on the roster for Latvia and four players with France. Three players who played in the ECHL this season are participating in the tournament – Iowa’s Jules Boscq (France), Zeteny Hadobas (Hungary) and Samuel Hlavaj (Slovakia).
Thirteen coaches in the tournament have ECHL experience, including United States Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky, who spent five seasons as assistant and head coach with South Carolina and just concluded his first season as head coach of the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks.
In addition, five officials who have officiated in the ECHL have been selected to work the tournament with referee Sean MacFarlane and linesmen Nick Briganti, Jake Davis, Shane Gustafson and Tarrington Wyonzek.
Former ECHL players and coaches participating in 2025 IIHF World Championships:
Austria – Assistant Coach Kirk Furey (Atlantic City, 2001-04) Brian Lebler (Elmira, 2010-11), Thimo Nickl (Wheeling, 2023-24) and Peter Schneider (Indy, 2014-16; Florida, 2016-17 and Kalamazoo, 2016-18)
Canada – Assistant Coach Andrew Brunette (Hampton Roads, 1993-94); Assistant Coach Steve McCarthy (Kalamazoo, 2015-16) and MacKenzie Weegar (Cincinnati, 2014-15)
Czechia – Daniel Vladar (Atlanta, 2016-18 and 2019-20)
Denmark – Assistant Coach Morten Madsen (Texas, 2007-08); Video Coach Peter Hirsch (Bakersfield, 2003-04 and 2010-11);Mikkel Aagaard (Adirondack, 2016-17 and Manchester, 2017-18) and Sebastian Dahm (Johnstown, 2008-09 and Alaska, 2009-10)
Finland – Emil Larmi (Wheeling, 2019-20) and Vili Saarijarvi (Toledo, 2015-16 and 2017-18)
France – Jules Boscq (Iowa, 2023-25); Louis Boudon (Iowa, 2022-24), Tim Bozon (Brampton, 2015-16 and Manchester, 2016-17) and Julian Junca (Tulsa, 2023-24)
Germany – Assistant Coach Serge Aubin (Hampton Roads, 1995-96); Assistant Coach Rob Leask (Johnstown, 1993-95); Philipp Grubauer (South Carolina, 2011-12 and Reading, 2012-13), Mathias Niederberger (Ontario, 2013-14) and Frederik Tiffels (Wheeling, 2017-18)
Hungary – Zsombor Garat (Worcester, 2023-24); Zeteny Hadobas (Iowa, 2024-25) and Adam Vay (Quad City, 2016-17 and Rapid City, 2017-18)
Latvia – Assistant Coach Arturs Irbe (Johnstown, 2003-04); Rihards Bukarts (Manchester, 2016-17); Martins Dzierkals (Orlando, 2017-18); Ralfs Freibergs (Ontario, 2014-15 and Toledo, 2015-16); Gustavs Grigals (Atlanta, 2023-24) and Kristers Gudlevskis (Florida, 2013-14) and Eduards Tralmaks (Maine, 2021-23)
Slovakia – Goaltending Coach Jan Lasak (Hampton Roads, 1999-2000); Samuel Hlavaj (Iowa, 2024-25) and Adam Huska (Maine, 2019-20)
Slovenia – Goaltending Coach Klemen Mohoric (Johnstown, 1996-97 and Louisville, 1996-97) and Jan Drozg (Wheeling, 2019-20)
Switzerland – Tyler Moy (Atlanta, 2018-19)
United States – Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky (South Carolina, 2013-18); Assistant Coach Kevin Dean (Cincinnati, 1991-92 and Trenton, 2010-11); Goaltending Coach Thomas Speer (Idaho, 2011-12; Las Vegas, 2011-12 and Allen, 2014-20) and Joey Daccord (Brampton, 2019-20)
