USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Four Lumberjacks Selected to Play for Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge Tournament

Published on November 16, 2022 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON - The Muskegon Lumberjacks have been saying for months that they have some of the best young players in the United States Hockey League this season, and that opinion is clearly shared by the experts at USA Hockey.

Four Lumberjacks have been chosen to represent the U.S. at the 2022 World Junior A Challenge tournament, which attracts some of the best amateur hockey players in the world.

Forwards Jake Richard and Ethan Whitcomb and defensemen Gavin McCarthy and Nathan McBrayer will play for Team USA in the tournament, which runs from Dec. 11-18 in Cornwall, Ontario.

The Lumberjacks have more players on the team than any other USHL squad, which is a feather in Muskegon's cap, according to Lumberjacks Coach Mike Hamilton.

"They're getting an opportunity to represent their country on the big stage," Hamilton said. "They were selected from among the best 04 and 05 (birth year) players in our league. Whoever puts the roster together IDs the top guys. To have four of the 21 who were chosen says a lot about the talent we have here.

"They are all really excited. McCarthy has played on a USA team in the past, and for the other guys I think this is their first opportunity. It's a great honor and we're proud of them and happy for them. We're here to help them get recognized and move on in their careers."

While the World Junior A Challenge will be a great opportunity for the four Lumberjacks, it will also be a great challenge for the team, which will have to compete in five games in December without them.

All four are big contributors. Richard currently leads the Lumberjacks with 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points. McCarthy is third on the team in point production with 10 assists, Whitcomb is fifth with 6 goals and 2 assists for 8 points and McBrayer is eighth with 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points.

"The league will allow us to replace guys who are gone," Hamilton said. "We will probably grab a guy or two from another league and fill the rest of the spots internally. Obviously this creates some opportunities for some other guys who are already here."

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2022


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