Lightning Round: Mikey Eyssimont joins Team USA for the World Championships
For the second straight year, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mikey Eyssimont is taking advantage of the team’s longer than hoped for offseason to play a little more hockey. The 27-year-old will suit up for Team USA at the upcoming IHF World Championships taking place in Czechia from May 10-26.
Eyssimont will join a team filled with NHL veterans that is sprinkled with college stars like Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Trey Augustine. Last year, the Lightning forward had a goal and two assists for an American squad that failed to medal.
He was also suspended for a game for kneeing Sweden’s Rasmus Sandin. The two teams will actually begin this season’s tournament against each other, hopefully Eyssimont will keep his knees to himself this year.
While not every team has released their final rosters just yet, it looks like there won’t be too many Lightning players or prospects heading to Czechia. Victor Hedman indicated he would be playing for Team Sweden in the tournament, marking the first time Big Vic has suited up for his country since 2016-17.
There are two teams that released their pre-tournament rosters and there were no Bolts to be found.
Team Finland
Walterri Merela could have been a possibility, but he’s still playing for Syracuse in their five-game series against Rochester. The same goes for Niko Huuhtanen. The Bolts prospect recently joined the Crunch a couple of weeks ago, but has yet to suit up for them.
Team Canada
None of the Lightning’s Canadian players or prospect cracked the roster. You would have to wonder if Anthony Cirelli was healthier if he would have joined them.
As the other 13 teams release their final rosters, we will look to see if there are any more Lightning players or prospects hanging out in Prague and Ostrava. Some possibilities include Klavs Veinbergs (Latvia), Erik Cernak (Slovakia – doubtful due to injury), and Nick Malik (Czechia).
