23 former ECHL players participating in 2023 IIHF World Championship

The ECHL is represented by 23 players in the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, which begin today and run through May 28 in Riga, Latvia and Tampere, Finland.

There is at least one former ECHL player on 12 of the 16 teams in the tournament, led by six players appearing on the roster for Latvia. Three players who played in the ECHL this season are participating in the tournament – France’s Justin Addamo (Wheeling) and Louis Boudon (Iowa) and Norway’s Christian Kasastul (Greenville).

In addition to the 23 players, six officials who have officiated in the ECHL have been selected to work the World Championships with referees Sean Fernandez, Sean MacFarlane and Liam Sewell, and linesmen Nick Briganti, Jake Davis and Tarrington Wyonzek.

Former ECHL players participating in 2023 IIHF World Championship:

Canada – Jacob Middleton (Manchester, 2015-16) and MacKenzie Weegar (Cincinnati, 2014-15)

Czechia – Marek Langhamer (Rapid City, 2015-17)

Denmark – Mikkel Aagaard (Adirondack, 2016-17 and Manchester, 2017-18)

Finland – Emil Larmi (Wheeling, 2019-20) and Jussi Olkinuora (Ontario, 2013-15 and Tulsa, 2015-16)

France – Justin Addamo (Wheeling, 2022-23); Louis Boudon (Iowa, 2022-23) and Tim Bozon (Brampton, 2015-16 and Manchester, 2016-17)

Germany – Mathias Niederberger (Ontario, 2013-14); Marcel Noebels (Trenton, 2012-13) and Frederik Tiffels (Wheeling, 2017-18)

Hungary – Daniel Koger (Cincinnati, 2011-12; South Carolina, 2011-13; Bakersfield, 2012-13; Florida, 2012-13; Elmira, 2013-14 and Toledo, 2013-14) and Gergo Nagy (Kalamazoo, 2014-15 and Quad City, 2017-18)

Latvia – Rodrigo Abols (Greenville, 2019-20); Rihards Bukarts (Manchester, 2016-17); Martins Dzierkals (Orlando, 2017-18); Ralfs Freibergs (Ontario, 2014-15 and Toledo, 2015-16); Kristers Gudlevskis (Florida, 2013-14) and Arturs Silovs (Trois-Rivières, 2021-22)

Norway – Christian Kasastul (Greenville, 2021-23)

Slovenia – Jan Drozg (Wheeling, 2019-20)

Switzerland – Robert Mayer (Cincinnati, 2009-10)

United States – Casey DeSmith (Wheeling, 2015-16)