Men's World

MINSK, Belarus – Seth Jones (Plano, Texas/Nashville Predators) of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team was named Best Defenseman of the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship, the IIHF announced today. Additionally, Jones was selected to the tournament’s All-Star Team.

Jones led all defensemen in the championship in both points (11) and assists (9). The youngest player on the U.S. roster (19), he ranked first on Team USA in both points and assists over eight games. Jones also led the U.S. in plus/minus (+8) and average time on ice per game (25:38). He was chosen by the U.S. coaching staff as one of Team USA's three best players in the tournament. He recorded four multi-point games, including a three-assist effort vs. Latvia and a two-goal, one-assist showing vs. Kazakhstan. His second goal versus the Kazakhs was the overtime winner.

Jones is the eighth U.S. player to receive a directorate award (Best Goaltender, Best Defenseman, Best Forward) at an IIHF Men’s World Championship. He is the first to do so since Ty Conklin (Best Goaltender, 2004). The only other U.S. defenseman to earn the accolade is John Mayasich (1962).

Team USA finished sixth among 16 teams at the 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship. The U.S. (4-1-0-3, W-OTW-OTL-L) placed second in Group B before losing to Czech Republic in the quarterfinal round. It was the 10th time in 11 years that the U.S. qualified for the quarterfinals.