COLORADO SPRINGS, USA – USA Hockey announced he first 18 players that will compete for the 2012 U.S. Men's National Team at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, May 4-20, in Finland and Sweden.

The group includes one goaltender, five defensemen and 12 forwards.

Highlighting the roster are six players with U.S. Olympic or U.S. Men's National Team credentials. Forwards Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche) and Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks) and defenseman Jack Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets) each collected silver medals at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Stastny also played on the 2007 U.S. Men's National Team. Ryan skated on the 2006 U.S. National Junior Team. Johnson has extensive Team USA experience, playing for four U.S. Men's National Teams (2007, '09-11), two U.S. National Junior Teams (2006, '07-bronze medal) and a pair of U.S. Men's National Under-18 Teams (2004-silver medal, '05-gold medal).

Defenseman Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks) joins Johnson as a returnee from the 2011 U.S. Men's National Team that played in Slovakia. Fowler has helped Team USA win gold medals at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship.

Forward Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders) is a two-time veteran of the U.S. Men's National Team, skating in 2009 and 2010. Okposo also played on the 2007 and 2008 U.S. National Junior Teams, winning a bronze medal in 2007. Forward Jim Slater (Winnipeg Jets) was a member of the 2006 U.S. Men's National Team and the 2002 U.S. National Junior Team.

Four more players have participated in IIHF World Championships, including forward Nathan Gerbe (Buffalo Sabres), who played for two U.S. National Junior Teams (2006, '07-bronze medal) and two U.S. Men's National Under-18 Teams (2004-silver medal, '05-gold medal).

Defenseman Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes) won a gold medal with the 2010 U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team and a bronze medal with the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team.

Forward Max Pacioretty (Montreal Canadiens) was a member of the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team, while defenseman Alex Goligoski (Dallas Stars) was a member of the 2005 U.S. National Junior Team.

Additionally, seven players will be making their Team USA debuts with the 2012 U.S. Men's National Team, including goaltender Richard Bachman (Dallas Stars), defenseman Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers) and forwards Cam Atkinson (Columbus Blue Jackets), J.T. Brown (Tampa Bay Lightning), Patrick Dwyer (Carolina Hurricanes) and Nate Thompson (Tampa Bay Lightning). Forward Ryan Lasch (Lahti Pelicans, Finland) played for Team USA's entry in the 2011 Deutschland Cup in Germany.

On 12 April, forward Joey Crabb (Toronto Maple Leafs) has been added to the U.S. Men's National Team roster.

Click here for full roster information.