COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Forward Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich./Detroit Red Wings/Michigan State Univ.) and goaltender Jimmy Howard of Ogdensburg have been added to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship it was announced by USA Hockey. The tournament is scheduled for May 4-20, 2012, in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

Abdelkader and Howard are making their debuts on the U.S. Men’s National Team, though each player has represented Team USA in the past. Abdelkader played for the U.S. National Junior Team that won the bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship. Howard backstopped the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2002 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship and was a member of the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship.

“I’m looking forward to that, playing for my country,” Howard said to the Windsor Sun. “It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do that, so I’m looking forward to going over to Finland and playing.”

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