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USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Waterloo Teammates, International Competitors

December 6, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa - Last weekend, they were traveling together to Michigan on the Black Hawks bus; during the coming days in Bonnyville, Alberta, Griffin Ness and Connor Caponi will see their Waterloo teammate Matej Blumel wearing opposing colors during the World Junior A Challenge.

Caponi and Ness have been chosen to join the U.S. Junior Select Team preparing to compete in the event which begins on Sunday. The roster is composed entirely of players from the United States Hockey League. Hawks Associate Head Coach Shane Fukushima and Strength & Conditioning Coach/Equipment Manager Spenser Popinga are also part of the American delegation. Meanwhile, Blumel will represent his native Czech Republic during the competition, which has been conducted annually since 2007.

Ness currently ranks fourth among Waterloo players with eight goals. Caponi has four goals and four assists in 22 appearances for the Hawks. Blumel leads the team in goals (14) and assists (17), adding up to 31 points, which ties for second in the USHL.

Last December at the World Junior A Challenge, the U.S. team reached the tournament's championship game, returning with silver medals after a 5-1 loss to one of two participating Canadian teams. The Czechs took a spill against the same Canadian squad in the semifinals before ultimately finishing with bronze in the six-team competition.

This year, the World Junior A Challenge will be conducted in a new format. In past seasons, the nations had been divided into two pools, each with three teams. With five teams for 2018 (Canada East, Canada West, and Russia in addition to the U.S. and Czech Republic), each squad will meet all of the other participants during a round robin preliminary schedule. The team with the lowest position in the standings will be dismissed, while the four remaining entries will advance to single-elimination semifinal matchups.

Following a warm-up exhibition, competition begins in earnest for the U.S. on Sunday versus Canada West. Czech Republic plays a Monday opener against Russia. The U.S./Czech Republic contest, pitting Caponi and Ness against Blumel, will be Tuesday night.

The gold and bronze medal games at the World Junior A Challenge will be played Sunday, December 16th.

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