By: Ellie Man | Follow me on Twitter/X @ellieyym
This time last year, Team USA was on a warpath at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. They’d started the competition by achieving a blistering 5-0 shutout against Denmark, followed by another 6-0 win against Hungary.
The national team would go on to win all of their games in the tournament, save for a lone loss versus Switzerland. The USA would surely avenge this stain on their record by defeating Switzerland in the finals and claiming the title. But this year has already looked to be a different story, with a rough start by the defending champions.
Two weeks after being knocked out of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, eight Boston Bruins players flew out to Switzerland to take part in the World Championship. James Hagens, Mason Lohrei, and Alex Steeves are among those selected and will be representing the USA throughout the tournament. The three young players make up the most Bruins on one team, with other B’s competing for teams Canada, Finland, Germany, and Czechia.
Hagens – who has previously played twice at the World Junior Championships – highlighted his desire to use this opportunity to increase his speed: “I think your first two steps, it kind of separates you from the defender. So that’s something that I really want to work on. That’s something that I will be taking a lot of pride in, especially during the offseason. It’s something that could really benefit you out there.”
This year’s competition began with Team USA taking on Team Switzerland once again in a preliminary game, setting the stage for a thrilling opener. Missed power play opportunities and clumsy turnovers saw Switzerland take the early victory, posting three goals against the USA’s lonely one.
Hagens was designated to the fourth line with Sam Lafferty and Paul Cotter, flying mostly under the radar, though he did create a few scoring chances and got involved in scrums. Despite the score being an undesired loss, the chance to build more experience will be beneficial for the 19-year-old forward to adjust to high-pressure play and fine-tune his skills.
Like with the Bruins, the 5’11”, 177-pound New Yorker has been playing as a left-winger for the national team as opposed to his preferred place of center. The World Championship offers the chance for him to develop further in this role, increasing his knowledge of his responsibilities and positioning alongside improving his ability to process plays and puck movement when on the ice.
As frustrations mounted in the third period of the game, Hagens and Denis Malgin were penalized for roughing. The two players were sent to the box with just over half a minute left to go. With a clear desire to produce more on the scoresheet and a hunger to shake off the loss, Hagens will be seeking to make an impact in upcoming games. With a desperate need for more offensive power after another loss to Finland and a narrow shootout win against Germany, it’s now up to Team USA to adjust and regroup in order to respond to their poor statistics.
Having signed a three-year, entry-level contract late in the regular season and playing just five games (including three playoff appearances), Hagens still has a long way to go to be ready for a full-time roster role with the Boston Bruins. He recorded an assist to get his first point in the league and will be looking to prove his worth as a reliable and productive forward. By gaining greater experience ahead of the next National Hockey League season, the New Yorker has the chance to better adapt to pro hockey. Playing with and against top-level talent will enable him to develop his skills and improve his decision-making under pressure.
Notably, Jeremy Swayman took part in the 2025 World Championship and helped Team USA to take gold. This came after a career-worst season, which disappointingly saw Boston out of the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Returning to the winning column spurred on the goalie’s reset, who swiftly re-found his footing for the following campaign, and the Bruins will be hoping that this shot will kickstart Hagens’ development and confidence at the elite level, too.
Both fans and analysts alike were eager for Hagens to make his debut with the Bruins, lauding his speed and playmaking abilities. But against inflated claims and rumors, the young forward undoubtedly needs further time to acclimate, just as any player coming into the National Hockey League would require. More experience and consistent playing time will allow the 19-year-old to build a sturdier foundation in professional hockey and find his role on the ice. The question is now how Hagens will make the most of the World Championship to improve his game, both for Team USA’s hopes of retaining the championship and the Bruins’ dreams of bringing back the Stanley Cup.
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