Geary, Rinzel on Preliminary National Roster
December 4, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release
Waterloo, Iowa - Waterloo Black Hawks alumni Patrick Geary and Sam Rinzel have been named to the preliminary roster for the U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey Announced on Monday.
The two college freshmen will be among 29 players attending a final training camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., from December 14th to 16th. Twenty-five of those attendees will travel to the IIHF World Junior Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. The competition begins on the day after Christmas when the United States meets Norway.
During two full seasons with the Black Hawks, Geary played in 115 regular season games, recording seven goals and 23 assists. That included a pair of game-winning goals last winter. Geary also played in nine USHL postseason games with one assist. The 19-year-old is currently in his first season as a Michigan State Spartan. The opening months of his college career have included three goals (all against Big Ten opponents) and three assists in 10 games. Michigan State is 10-4-2, including a 5-1-2 mark in conference.
Rinzel's Minnesota Gophers are 4-4-2 in the Big Ten and 8-5-3 overall, with Rinzel contributing 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in his initial 16 collegiate games. He notched his first NCAA goal last Friday versus Penn State. As a Black Hawk, Rinzel scored 11 times and assisted on 35 other goals during 79 USHL appearances. He also tallied a goal and two assists in nine playoff games. Rinzel was picked by the Chicago Blackhawks during the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, between his first and second season in Waterloo.
Logan Stein was the last Black Hawk to be chosen as a member of the U.S. National Junior Team. He was a reserve goaltender in 2021 when Team USA won the gold medal. The last time Waterloo had multiple alumni on the U.S. team competing at the World Junior Championships was in 2019, when Mikey Anderson, Jack Drury, and Dylan Samberg participated in the event. Those three skaters have each advanced to the NHL in the years since.
The final U.S. roster for this winter's competition will be announced on December 17th.
In addition to opening the event against Norway, the American team will also face Switzerland, Czechia, and Slovakia during pool play. The IIHF World Junior Championships conclude with Bronze and Gold Medal games on January 5, 2024.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2023
- Ferkodic Named to Slovakia WJAC Roster - Lincoln Stars
- Major and Hagens Earn USHL Player of the Week Honors - Chicago Steel
- Chambre Named USHL Goaltender of the Week - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Major, Hagens and Chambre Selected for League Honors - USHL
- Geary, Rinzel on Preliminary National Roster - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Green Bay Faces Chicago in a Home and Home Series - Green Bay Gamblers
- Gamblers Sweep Tri-City - Green Bay Gamblers
- Bucs Blackout Dubuque - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Point Streak Continues for Hong, Caps Fall in Overtime 4-3 - Madison Capitols
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Waterloo Black Hawks Stories
- Dobes Is New Sales Director
- USHL Reveals Fall Classic Itinerary
- Hinostroza Headed for Nashville
- Back to the Future for MacDonald
- Utah Is Matikka's Next Stop
