Thursday, May 11, 2017
2:00 p.m. local time

COLOGNE, Germany – It is an off day for the players today, however, that is not the case for the training staff.

Players had a window this morning for treatments and following, the trainers spent the day packing up the lockerroom and moving to the practice rink.

Due to tournament logistics, one team with its lockerroom at LANXESS Arena had to move to accommodate Friday’s game schedule. The U.S. agreed to be that team.

Shifting the entire lockerroom contents – including the main lockerroom, changing room, training room, coaches room and equipment room – from LANXESS Arena to the practice arena is a multi-hour process. The décor’ that has been put up to make the players and staff feel at home also has to taken down.

After all was packed and moved, the lockerroom was “re-created” at the practice rink. The team will practice tomorrow afternoon at the practice rink and then the entire process will take place again, with everything being packed and moved back to LANXNESS Arena Friday evening so it is set-up and in place for players and staff to arrive Saturday morning in time for Team USA’s 12:15 p.m. tilt against Latvia.

The training staff – including equipment managers Chris Scoppetto and Scott Aldrich; athletic trainers Jason Serbus and Stan Wong; and massage therapist Peewee Willmann – used a mix of music, coffee and laughter to help them through the moving process. In addition, several volunteers from the local organizing committee assisted the U.S. training staff with the move.

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Inside Story with Team USA Forward Nick Schmaltz

Favorite Hockey Moment
Winning national championship at North Dakota last year

Favorite Youth Hockey Moment
Grew up playing in Verona (Wis.) and always looked forward going to the rink every time

Best thing about hockey
Friendships you make

Favorite Olympic sport outside of hockey
Track and Field

Best Movie You’ve Seen Recently
War Dogs

Favorite Streaming Show
Breaking Bad

Go-To Music
Country