clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2013 IIHF World Championships: Craig Smith & Bobby Butler to Play for Team USA

By Dirk Hoag
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

USA Hockey today released the first 15 names on their roster for the 2013 IIHF World Championships, and the Nashville Predators' will be represented up front by Craig Smith and Bobby Butler. The Worlds, which are taking place next month between Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden, are an opportunity for NHL players to get some extra playing time against pro-quality players from both North America and Europe.

Craig Smith

#15 / Center / Nashville Predators

6-1

197

Sep 05, 1989

GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG
SOG PCT
2012 - Craig Smith 42 3 7 10 -12 18 1 0 0 76 3.9

A big part of the buzz surrounding Craig Smith as a rookie in 2011 was due to his performance in the World Championships that summer, as he led Team USA with six goals. Might another strong tournament re-ignite his game?

Bobby Butler

#19 / Left Wing / Nashville Predators

6-0

189

Apr 26, 1987

GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG
SOG PCT
2012 - Bobby Butler 32 4 7 11 -6 4 1 0 0 38 10.5

This will be Butler's first chance to play in the World Championships.

From USA Hockey:

GOALTENDERS

No Name Ht (cm) Wt (kg) Birthdate S/C Hometown Most Recent Team College Team (if applicable)
30 Ben Bishop 6-7 (201) 215 (98) 1986-11-21 L Denver, Colo. Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) Univ. of Maine (HEA)
39 Cal Heeter 6-4 (194) 195 (89) 11/2/88 L St. Louis, Mo. Adirondack Phantoms (AHL) Ohio State University (CCHA)

DEFENSEMEN

No Name Ht (cm) Wt (kg) Birthdate S/C Hometown Most Recent Team College Team (if applicable)
34 Chris Butler 6-1 (185) 203 (92) 1986-10-27 L St. Louis, Mo. Calgary Flames (NHL) Univ. of Denver (WCHA)
25 Matt Carle 6-0 (183) 205 (93) 1984-09-25 L Anchorage, Alaska Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) Univ. of Denver (WCHA)
27 Justin Faulk 6-0 (183) 215 (98) 3/20/92 R South St. Paul, Minn. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) Univ. of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)
22 Matt Hunwick 5-11 (180) 190 (86) 1985-05-21 L Warren, Mich. Colorado Avalanche (NHL) Univ. of Michigan (CCHA)
4 Jamie McBain 6-2 (188) 197 (89) 1998-02-25 R Edina, Minn. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA)
2 Jeff Petry 6-3 (191) 200 (91) 1987-12-09 R Ann Arbor, Mich. Edmonton Oilers (NHL) Michigan State (CCHA)

FORWARDS


No Name Ht (cm) Wt (kg) Birthdate S/C Hometown Most Recent Team College Team (if applicable)
27 Nick Bjugstad 6-6 (198) 215 (97) 1992-07-17 R Minneapolis, Minn. Florida Panthers (NHL) Univ. of Minnesota (WCHA)
TBD Bobby Butler 6-0 (183) 185 (84) 4/26/87 R Marlborough, Mass. Nashville Predators (NHL) Univ. of New Hampshire (HEA)
7 Danny Kristo 5-11 (180) 188 (85) 1990-06-18 R Eden Prairie, Minn. Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA) Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA)
15 Craig Smith 6-1 (185) 197 (89) 1989-09-05 R Madison, Wis. Nashville Predators (NHL) Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA)
19 Tim Stapleton 5-9 (175) 180 (82) 1982-07-19 R La Grange, Ill. HC Dinamo Minsk (KHL) Univ. of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)
26 Paul Stastny 6-0 (183) 205 (93) 1985-12-27 L St. Louis, Mo. Colorado Avalanche (NHL) Univ. of Denver (WCHA)
44 Nate Thompson 6-0 (183) 206 (93) 1984-10-15 L Anchorage, Alaska Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)