USHL Players Comprise 2019 U.S. Men's World Junior a Challenge
Published on November 19, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
CHICAGO, ILL. - USA Hockey announced Tuesday the U.S. Junior Select Team set to compete in the 2019 World Junior A Challenge from December 7-15 in Dawson Creek, B.C. All 21 players selected currently play in the USHL. The team is comprised of 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies.
Nine different USHL teams are represented on the roster, including the Chicago Steel (4), Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (3), Tri-City Storm (3), Waterloo Black Hawks (3), Lincoln Stars (2), Omaha Lancers (2), Sioux City Musketeers (2), Des Moines Buccaneers (1), and Youngstown Phantoms (1).
Twenty of the 21 players are currently committed to NCAA Division I schools, including four schools with multiple commits: University of Minnesota (3), Harvard University (3), University of Notre Dame (2) and University of Michigan (2).
Among the 21 USHL players on roster, three were selected at the 2019 NHL Draft including goaltender Ethan Haider (Nashville Predators - Round 4, #148 overall), forward Rhett Pitlick (Montreal Canadiens - Round 5, #131 overall), and defenseman Michael Koster (Toronto Maple Leafs - Round 5, #146 overall). Another nine were featured on the most recent NHL Central Scouting Updated Rankings ahead of the 2020 NHL Draft, including B-rated skaters Mitch Miller, Luke Reid and Ryder Rolston, as well as C-rated skaters Brendan Brisson, Sean Farrell, Trevor Kuntar, Alex Laferriere, Ben Meehan and Grant Silianoff.
The remainder of the roster is comprised of forwards Connor Caponi, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Josh Groll, Matt Knies and Josh Lopina, defensemen Christian Berger, Nolan Krenzen and Jack Millar, as well as goaltender Logan Stein.
The 2019 U.S. Junior Select Team will be led by the same group as last year, a group of USHL coaching brass: Head Coach Anthony Noreen (Tri-City Storm, President of Hockey Operations and Head Coach) and Assistant Coaches Mark Abalan (Sioux City Musketeers, Associate Head Coach), Shane Fukushima (Waterloo Black Hawks, Assistant Coach) and David Wilkie (Omaha Lancers, General Manager and Head Coach). The staff returns after leading the United States to its eighth gold medal in 13 appearances.
It is Noreen's fourth time on the U.S. Junior Select staff and second as a head coach. In 2013, he helped lead the U.S. team to its fifth championship at the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, NS. In 2017, Noreen was an Assistant Coach as the United States claimed the silver medal with a 4-2-0-0 record. It is the third time behind the U.S. bench for Abalan (2018, 2013) and Shane Fukushima (2018, 2011) and marks the second appearance for Wilkie (2018).
The support staff for the World Junior A Challenge also includes Chicago Steel Athletic Trainer James Schroeder and Waterloo Black Hawks Equipment Manager and Strength Coach Spenser Popinga. Schroeder will serve as Athletic Trainer and Popinga will serve as Equipment Manager for the WJAC. The U.S. General Manager, Marc Boxer, also has ties to the USHL as he played for the Des Moines Buccaneers for two seasons (1989-91).
The World Junior A Challenge is in its 14th year and the United States is set to compete for the 13th time. The United States is one of five teams in the competition alongside Canada East, Canada West, Czech Republic and Russia. The United States is attempting to win the World Junior A Challenge title in back-to-back years for just the third time (2008-10 & 2012-14).
Seven NHL Draft first round selections from the USHL have played for the U.S. Select Team all-time: Brock Boeser (Waterloo Black Hawks), John Carlson (Indiana Ice), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Ryan Johnson (Sioux Falls Stampede), John Moore (Chicago Steel), Jordan Schmaltz (Green Bay Gamblers) and Nick Schmaltz (Green Bay Gamblers).
The United States faces Canada East in a pre-tournament exhibition game on Thursday, December 5 at 8 p.m. CT before opening competition on Saturday, December 7 against Canada West at 8 p.m. CT.
United States Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2019
- Youngstown's Kuntar Selected to Team USA Roster for World Junior A Challenge - Youngstown Phantoms
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Musketeers Send 3 to World Junior A Challenge - Sioux City Musketeers
- Second Annual Honor Flight Night Raises over $23,000 - Fargo Force
- USHL Players Comprise 2019 U.S. Men's World Junior a Challenge - USHL
- Hawks Play for USA at 2019 WJAC - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Named to WJAC U.S. Men's Junior Select Team - Omaha Lancers
- Noreen, Miller, Koster, Knies to Represent Storm at World Junior A Challenge - Tri-City Storm
- Four Steel Players Selected to Team USA Roster for World Junior A Challenge - Chicago Steel
- Storm Announce Changes to Hockey Operations Department, Koehler Named GM - Tri-City Storm
- Beck Named USHL Defenseman of the Week - Fargo Force
- Saints Portillo Tabbed USHL Goalie of the Week - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Brendan Brisson Named USHL Forward of the Week - Chicago Steel
- Brendan Brisson (Chicago), Noah Beck (Fargo) and Erik Portillo (Dubuque) Earn Weekly Honors - USHL
- Eight RoughRiders Commit to D1 Hockey Programs on Initial NLI Signing Day - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
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