22 USHL Players Named to U.S. Junior Select Team
November 16, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Colorado Springs, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced the 22 players for the U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete in the 2023 World Junior A Challenge from Dec. 10-17 in Truro, Nova Scotia.
The group includes 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. All players currently compete in the United States Hockey League (USHL), the only Tier I junior hockey league in the U.S.
2023 U.S. Junior Select Team Roster
The roster features six players selected in the 2023 NHL Draft, including Brandon Svoboda (Level Green, Pa./Youngstown Phantoms) who was taken with the 71st overall pick in the third round by the San Jose Sharks; Chris Pelosi (Sewell, N.J./Sioux Falls Stampede), who was selected by the Boston Bruins 92nd overall in the third round; Columbus Blue Jackets fourth round (98th overall) selection Andrew Strathmann (Beach Park, Ill./Youngstown Phantoms); Boston Bruins fourth round (124th overall) selection Beckett Hendrickson (Minnetonka, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede); Los Angeles Kings fourth round (118th overall) draftee Hampton Slukynsky (Warroad, Minn./Fargo Force); and Detroit Red Wings fifth round pick (137th overall) Jack Phelan (Hinsdale, Ill./Sioux Falls Stampede).
In addition, Zam Plante (Hermantown, Minn./Fargo Force) was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (150th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Two players from the 2022 U.S. Junior Select Team are returning to World Jr. A Challenge action, including Gavin Lindberg (Fergus Falls, Minn./Waterloo Black Hawks), and Strathmann.
Several players have represented the U.S. at previous international events. Hendrickson and Slukynsky won gold with Team USA at the 2023 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship.
Additionally, Trevor Connelly (Tustin, Calif./Tri-City Storm), Will Felicio (Holden, Mass./Madison Capitols), Caleb Heil (Victoria, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede), Tory Pitner (Greenwich, Conn.) and Mac Swanson (Anchorage, Alaska/Fargo Force) represented the U.S. at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, while Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H./Muskegon Lumberjacks), Griffin Erdman (Wilmington, Del./Waterloo Black Hawks), and Strathmann took part in the 2022 event.
The U.S. opens tournament play on Dec. 11 against Slovakia at 2:30 p.m. ET.
NOTES: Since the inaugural World Junior A Challenge in 2006, Team USA has captured nine tournament crowns (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022), including the 2022 title... Marc Boxer (Hancock, Mich.) is the general manager of the 2023 U.S. Junior Select Team. Matt Smaby (Minneapolis, Minn./Waterloo Black Hawks) will serve as head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team, joined by assistant coaches Mike Leone (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Green Bay Gamblers), Carter Krier (Moorhead, Minn./Fargo Force), and Evan Dixon (Novi, Mich./Dubuque Fighting Saints).
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