Keith Ballard - International Play

International Play

Ballard made his international debut with Team USA at the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships in Switzerland. He was named to the squad while playing in the National Under-18 Development Program for the 1999–2000 season. He contributed a goal and an assist in six games, as the United States finished in eighth place. Two years later, Ballard was named to the under-20 squad for the 2001 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. He played in seven games, recording a goal and an assist. The United States lost in the quarterfinal to Russia and went on to place in fifth after defeating Sweden 3–2 in a consolation match.

Following his third year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Ballard debuted with the United States men's team for the 2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic. He was named to the squad after forward Scott Gomez withdrew himself due to personal reasons. As the lone NCAA player on the national squad, he helped the United States to a bronze medal finish. His lone goal of the tournament and first career goal in men's international competition came during a 7–1 round-robin win against Ukraine.

Three years later, Ballard began a three-year stretch of consecutive appearances at the World Championships. He recorded an international career-high three assists at the 2007 tournament in Russia, as the United States were eliminated in a 5–4 shootout loss to Finland in the quarterfinal. Competing in Quebec City and Halifax, Canada, the following year, Ballard recorded two assists in five games while ranking seventh among team defensemen in average ice time per game. The United States finished in sixth place, losing in the quarterfinal to Finland. Ballard made his second bronze medal game appearance with the United States at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, but lost to Sweden by a 4–2 score. He contributed a goal and two assists in nine games while ranking second on the squad in plus-minus with a +3 rating and sixth among team defensemen in average ice time per game.