COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With the 2017 IIHF Men’s World Championship less than a month away, USA Hockey announced today that its U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, in addition to former U.S. Men’s National Team players Bill Guerin (Pittsburgh Penguins/Assistant General Manager) and Chris Drury (New York Rangers/Assistant General Manager), will lead efforts in selecting players and staff that will represent the United States in the event.

The U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, includes NHL general managers Stan Bowman (Chicago Blackhawks), Dean Lombardi (L.A. Kings), David Poile (Nashville Predators), and Ray Shero (New Jersey Devils), along with Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations Dale Tallon and Carolina Hurricanes President Don Waddell.

The U.S., which will face Italy in a pre-tournament game in Milan, Italy, on May 2, (8 p.m. local time) begins play in the 2017 IIHF Men’s World Championship on May 5 against host Germany at 8:15 p.m. (local time) in Cologne, Germany.

USA Hockey expects to name the initial players part of the roster later this week.