USA Hockey named 29 participants that will try out for 22 roster spots at the World Juniors this year. Here's who is invited:
GOALTENDERS (2)
Name Ht (cm) Wt (kg) Birthdate S/C Hometown 2009-10 Team (League)
Jack Campbell 6-2 (188) 185 (85) 1/9/92 L Port Huron, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP)
Mike Lee 6-1 (185) 195 (88) 10/5/90 L Roseau, Minn. St. Cloud State University (WCHA)
DEFENSEMEN (11)
John Carlson 6-3 (190) 210 (95) 1/10/90 R Colonia, N.J. Hershey Bears (AHL)
Matt Donovan 6-0 (183) 190 (86) 5/9/90 L Edmond, Okla. University of Denver (WCHA)
Justin Faulk 5-11 (180) 195 (88) 3/20/92 R South St. Paul, Minn. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP)
Cam Fowler 6-2 (188) 198 (90) 12/5/91 L Farmington Hills, Mich. Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Jake Gardiner 6-2 (188) 200 (91) 7/4/90 L Minnetonka, Minn. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Brian Lashoff 6-3 (190) 204 (93) 7/16/90 L Albany, N.Y. Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Jon Merrill 6-3 (190) 200 (91) 2/3/92 L Brighton, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP)
John Moore 6-2 (188) 200 (91) 11/19/90 L Winnetka, Ill. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Max Nicastro 6-2 (188) 189 (86) 3/2/90 R Thousand Oaks, Calif. Boston University (HEA)
John Ramage 6-0 (183) 195 (88) 2/7/91 R St. Louis, Mo. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
David Warsofsky 5-9 (175) 170 (77) 5/30/90 L Marshfield, Mass. Boston University (HEA)
FORWARDS (16)
Ryan Bourque 5-8 (173) 170 (77) 1/3/91 L Boxford, Mass. Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Chris Brown 6-2 (188) 191 (86) 2/3/91 R Houston, Texas University of Michigan (CCHA)
Jerry D?Amigo 5-11 (180) 200 (91) 2/19/91 L Binghamton, N.Y. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECACH)
A.J. Jenks 6-2 (188) 205 (93) 6/27/90 L Wolverine Lake, Mich. Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Tyler Johnson^ 5-8 (173) 171 (77) 7/29/90 R Spokane, Wash. Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Chris Kreider 6-2 (188) 206 (93) 4/30/91 L Boxford, Mass. Boston College (HEA)
Danny Kristo^ 6-0 (183) 184 (84) 6/18/90 R Eden Prairie, Minn. University of North Dakota (WCHA)
Philip McRae 6-3 (190) 198 (90) 3/15/90 L Chesterfield, Mo. London Knights (OHL)
Jeremy Morin 6-1 (185) 196 (88) 4/16/91 R Auburn, N.Y. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Kyle Palmieri 5-11 (180) 196 (88) 2/1/91 R Montvale, N.J. University of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Vinny Saponari 6-0 (183) 190 (86) 2/15/90 R Powder Springs, Ga. Boston University (HEA)
Jordan Schroeder^% 5-9 (175) 185 (85) 9/29/90 R Prior Lake, Minn. University of Minnesota (WCHA)
Derek Stepan 6-1 (185) 183 (82) 6/18/90 R Hastings, Minn. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Luke Walker 6-1 (185) 185 (85) 2/19/90 R Portland, Ore. Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
David Wohlberg 6-1 (185) 192 (87) 7/18/90 L South Lyon, Mich. University of Michigan (CCHA)
Jason Zucker 5-10 (178) 180 (81) 1/16/92 L Las Vegas, Nev. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP)
So Lee and Campbell will definitely be the two goalies on the team, which is no big surprise. Colorado College's Joe Howe made an interesting push with his play this year, but Lee has played well enough this year and in the past for this to be his team, and Campbell is definitely the future for USA Hockey.
Four defensemen and three forwards need to be cut after that to pare things down to the final 20 other roster spots. There's definitely some tough choices to be made.
John Carlson won't attend the tryout camp, but he will definitely be on the team, and should be the top defenseman. I'd take Fowler, Donovan, Moore, Nicastro, and Warsofsky next. The last spot should probably go to one of the '92s and between Merrill and Faulk, I'd take Merrill, just because he's a little better suited for a more defensive role, unless they decide they want to let Faulk blast shots from the point on the powerplay. I don't really know what Lashoff is bringing to the table, so he could be on there as well.
At forward, you only have to cut three guys, and again it's a tough choice. It's nice to see A.J. Jenks on there, since I remember him being dissappointed when he back out on the NTDP at the last minute that it probably killed his chances of playing in this tournament some day. You could make a strong case for any of those games, and hopefully the strong competition gets some guys playing their best heading into the tournament.