COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Sabres forward Nathan Gerbe is one of the first 17 players to be named by USA Hockey as member of it's world championship team.

The world championships start May 4th in Helsinki, Finland.  It's the same city that the Sabres began the season in back in October. 

Gerbe played for two U.S. National Junior teams in 2006 and 2007 and two U.S. National Under-18 teams in 2004 and 2005.  For the Sabres this season Gerbe played in 62 games, finishing with 6 goals and 19 assists. 

TSN is reporting that Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has turned down a chance to coach Canada's team.  Ruff coached Team Canada in the 2009 World Championship, losing to Russia in the gold medal game.