Two Chicago Blackhawks demoted at World Championships by Team USA

Team USA didn't get the start they had planned at the IIHF World Championships currently going on in Sweden. They lost a game early in the tournament against Switzerland, who are in first place in their group, and lost another point when Team Norway forced overtime after coming back from a 5-1 deficit.

The U.S. was in action today against Czechia for their final game of the preliminary round. Before the game, the team released their lineup, and changes concerning two Chicago Blackhawks players were noticed.

For one of the most important games of the tournament, it appears USA head coach Ryan Warsofsky decided to make a few lineup changes.

Indeed, Frank Nazar was placed on the wing, while defenseman Alex Vlasic was sent down to the third pair after spending time on the second:

The decision to move Nazar was especially surprising, considering he was one of the best players on his team in the tournament. He is currently tied with Sidney Crosby at fifth in scoring, with nine points in six games.

Watch all his goals in the highlight reel below:

This season, Nazar, 21, scored 26 points in 53 games, but has improved tremendously since the start of the tournament.

As for Vlasic, the defenseman scored two points in six games in the tournament, after a 30-point tally last season with the Hawks.

In Chicago, the team and the fans are hoping that both players will be able to bring the same energy at the start of next season.

Among the other Blackhawks players taking part in the Worlds are Lukas Reichel, Arvid Soderblom, and Teuvo Teravainen.

Updates from the World Championships will follow. Stay tuned for more.