NMU senior-to-be Kristof Papp is competing for his native Hungary, the only current or former U.S. college player on that team, according to a news release from the CCHA and the College Hockey Inc. website.

Papp played for the Wildcats for the first time in the 2022-23 season after transferring from Michigan State.

Last season, the NMU forward was fourth in assists with 15, tied for fifth in goals with 11 and fifth in points with 26. He had five power play goals, tied for second among Wildcats, a team-leading three unassisted goals and 30 blocked shots.

The IIHF tourney that runs through Thursday with games in Tampere, Finland, and Riga, Latvia, is being shown on the NHL Network, including a game between the United States and Hungary to be shown live at 5 a.m. Sunday. In addition, Hungary’s game against Denmark was scheduled for 9 a.m. today.

Kristof Papp

Four other former CCHA players are also playing in the tourney, according to the league. Former Lake Superior State player Louis Boudon is suiting up for France, while Minnesota State-Mankato’s Connor Mackey will play for the U.S. and the Mavericks’ Parker Tuomie for Germany. And Bowling Green alumnus Ralfs Freibergs will play for Latvia.

College Hockey Inc. lists six current NCAA players and 40 former players on the rosters of 12 of the 16 competing teams — the U.S., Germany, Latvia, Canada, France, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Hungary, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden.

The highest profile current college player is 2023 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan playing for Canada.

The other current college players listed are Cutter Gauthier of Boston College and Lane Hutson and Luke Tuch of Boston University, all on the U.S. team, and Arvils Bergmanis of Alaska-Fairbanks for Latvia.

Boston University has five current and past players represented, with Notre Dame and St. Cloud State with four apiece as 26 NCAA teams are represented, 11 with multiple past and present players.

More information on the tournament is available at the IIHF’s website, IIHF.com.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.