Avalanche defenseman Zach Redmond has been named to Team USA for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship tournament that runs May 1-17 in Ostrava and Prague, Czech Republic.

This will be the first international competition for Redmond, who this season had career highs for goals (five), assists (15) and games (59). He finished third among Avalanche defensemen in scoring behind Tyson Barrie (53 points) and Erik Johnson (23 points), who missed the NHL All-Star Game and the final 35 games because of a knee injury.

Johnson has played in a number of international competitions for the U.S., most recently the 2013 World Championships and 2010 Olympics.

"It was really frustrating to not be able to come back after having such a first half of the year," said Johnson, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Jan. 26 after collecting 12 goals and 11 assists in 47 games. "I'm feeling good and I'll be a hundred percent and ready to go for next year. It was tough not being able to play this last stretch, 30-some odd games and to help the guys get into the playoffs.

"During my exit meeting last year, the coaching staff wanted me to take on a bigger role and play more minutes," said Johnson, who averaged a team-high 24:25 in ice time this season. "I did that and was on pace for a career year. It would have been nice to finish that out and see where it took me.

"I know what I'm capable of now and I have more room to grow and can be better and take on more responsibility. It was really nice to be able to see myself as a top defenseman and I want to continue on from there and go into next year and be able to do that."

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Barrie and forwards Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon and Ryan O'Reilly were named to play for Canada. The Denver Post reported that captain Gabriel Landeskog isn't likely to play for Sweden because of a wrist injury.

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MacKinnon, last season's Calder Trophy winner, had 14 goals and 24 assists in 64 games after he produced 24 goals and 39 assists on 82 games last year. He was starting to play his best hockey of the season -- he had five goals and four assists in nine games -- before he went down with a broken foot.

"It's funny, that's what sucks the most," he said. "I felt like I was kind of entering my stride. We all started playing better. A lot of guys started really tearing it up. It'll be positive going into next season."

MacKinnon said he'll be on own next season after living with former teammate Max Talbot and his family this season. He lived with goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and his family as a rookie.

"I'll be on my own next year, I think I'm ready after the last couple of years," he said.

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The Avalanche on Friday announced that they are changing their American Hockey League affiliate from Cleveland to San Antonio. The Rampage will serve as the team's top affiliate for the next five years beginning with the upcoming 2015-16 season.

The Lake Erie Monsters will become the top affiliate for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Rampage are owned and operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, which also owns and operates the NBA San Antonio Spurs, WNBA San Antonio Stars and the NBA Development League Austin Spurs.

The Rampage play their games at the SS&E-operated AT&T Center and are one the AHL’s top teams in attendance, having ranked among the top seven in the league for the past five seasons.



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