Pair of Lumberjacks Selected to U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team for Hlinka Gretzky Cup
June 29, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
Muskegon Lumberjacks defenseman Gavin McCarthy
(Muskegon Lumberjacks)
MUSKEGON, Mich. - USA Hockey has released its roster for the upcoming 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which includes one current and one future Muskegon Lumberjacks player. In all, Gavin McCarthy and Joe Connor both made the U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team for the annual tournament set to begin July 31 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
GAVIN MCCARTHY - DEFENSEMAN
McCarthy, the 6-foot-1, 171-pound defenseman appeared in 53 games with the Lumberjacks in 2021-22, scoring two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in his USHL rookie season. The Boston University recruit played three years with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres before tendering in Muskegon. The Clarence Center, N.Y. native was a member of Team USA that won the 2021 U17 Five Nations Tournament in Visp, Switzerland.
JOE CONNOR - FORWARD
Connor, the 5-foot-9, 161-pound forward skated in 26 games with the Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Conn. during the 2021-22 season, scoring 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points. The Amherst, N.H. native was previously selected to the 2021 BioSteel Boys Select 16 player development camp last year. The Muskegon Lumberjacks selected Connor 314th overall in the 2021 USHL Phase I Draft.
In addition, former Lumberjacks equipment manager Patrick Dooley has been tabbed as Team USA's Equipment Manager for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The Berkley, Mich. recently completed his first season with the Univ. of Vermont Catamounts Men's Ice Hockey team in the same role, after serving five years with the Lumberjacks beginning in 2016.
The 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup is slated for July 31 through August 6, 2022, in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. The U.S. will be placed in Group B competing alongside Czechia, Finland, and Germany. Group A will consist of Canada, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Following a preliminary-round play within the groups, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on August 5, with the 3rd-place and championship games set for August 6.
All-time, the U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team has captured the Hlinka Gretzky Cup one time (2003) and has earned second-place finishes eight times in 2016, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2000, 1996, 1994, and 1993.
Images from this story
 Muskegon Lumberjacks defenseman Gavin McCarthy |
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- USHL Has 14 Players, Nine Coaches and Staff Named to 2022 U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team - USHL
- Pair of Lumberjacks Selected to U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team for Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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