UMass Stars on the International Stage: Dans Locmelis Represents Latvia at 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship and Matthew Kessel Skates for Team USA

Two representatives from the University of Massachusetts hockey program will be participating in the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s World Championship in Czechia. Rising sophomore forward Dans Locmelis will be playing for Latvia, while alumnus Matthew Kessel (2019-22) will be skating with Team USA.

Dans Locmelis had a successful rookie season at UMass, tallying 14 points with seven goals and seven assists over 30 games. He also had one power-play goal, one game-winning goal, won 55% of faceoffs, and blocked seven shots. Locmelis served as the captain for Latvia at the 2024 World Junior Championship, where he contributed five points in five games. He previously represented Latvia at the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships, earning a total of five points over 11 games.

Matthew Kessel recently completed his second full season of professional hockey with the St. Louis Blues organization, playing in both the NHL and the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. In 39 NHL games in 2023-24, Kessel recorded seven points, including his first career NHL goal, and six assists. In Springfield, he had eight points in 36 games.

The IIHF Men’s World Championship is set to take place from May 10-26 in Prague and Ostrava, Czechia. The tournament will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada