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USA World Junior A Challenge Roster Selected

Team USA's roster for the World Junior A Challenge was released today.

By Chris Dilks
Michael Downing and Luke Johnson at this year's All-American Prospects Game
Michael Downing and Luke Johnson at this year's All-American Prospects Game
Bruce Bennett

USA Hockey released their roster for this year's World Junior A Challenge, which will take place in Canada in the first week of November. Typically, this roster is mostly comprised of the top players in the USHL, and this year is no exception, with only one player from outside the USHL being on the roster. The US has dominated this event in recent years, making expectations high for this current group, which should be favored to win the tournament.

Here is the roster:

GOALIES (2)

Michael Bitzer 5-10 (178) 201 (91) 10/23/93 L Moorhead, Minn. Lincoln Stars (USHL)

Eamon McAdam 6-2 (188) 180 (82) 9/24/94 L Perkasie, Pa. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

DEFENSEMEN (7)

Ian Brady 5-11 (180) 193 (87) 5/22/94 R Lombard, Ill. Cedar Rapids Rough Riders (USHL)

Mike Downing 6-3 (191) 195 (88) 5/19/95 L Canton, Mich. Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Blake Heinrich 5-11 (180) 192 (87) 2/17/95 L Cambridge, Minn. Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

Dan Molenaar 5-11 (180) 186 (84) 5/5/93 R Eden Prairie, Minn. Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

Ian McCoshen 6-3 (191) 205 (93) 8/5/95 L Hudson, Wis. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

Jaccob Slavin 6-2 (188) 170 (77) 5/1/94 L Erie, Colo. Chicago Steel (USHL)/CAR ('12, 4th rd., 120th overall)

Justin Woods 6-0 (183) 204 (92) 2/12/94 L Fairbanks, Alaska Lincoln Stars (USHL)

FORWARDS (13)

Robbie Baillargeon 6-0 (183) 170 (77) 11/26/93 R Brewster, Mass. Indiana Ice (USHL)/OTT ('12, 5th rd., 136th overall)

Taylor Cammarata 5-6 (168) 160 (73) 5/13/95 L Plymouth, Minn. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

Austin Cangelosi 5-7 (171) 170 (77) 8/27/94 R Estero. Fla. Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Sheldon Dries 5-9 (175) 170 (77) 4/23/94 L Macomb Twp., Mich. Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

Thomas Ebbing 5-11 (180) 165 (75) 9/28/94 L Troy, Mich. Chicago Steel (USHL)

Ryan Fitzgerald 5-10 (178) 165 (75) 10/19/94 L North Reading, Mass. Valley Jr. Warriors (EJHL)

Vincent Hinostroza 5-9 (175) 170 (77) 4/3/94 R Bartlett, Ill. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)/ CHI ('12, 6th rd., 169th overall)

Luke Johnson 5-11 (180) 170 (77) 9/19/94 R Grand Forks, N.D. Lincoln Stars (USHL)

Alex Kile 5-11 (180) 180 (82) 7/9/94 L Troy, Mich. Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

Justin Kloos 5-9 (175) 170 (77) 11/30/93 R Lakeville, Minn. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

Nicholas Schilkey 5-9 (175) 170 (77) 5/12/94 R Smiths Creek, Mich. Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

J.T. Stenglein 6-0 (183) 200 (91) 7/11/93 L Greece, N.Y. Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Zach Stepan 6-0 (183) 165 (75) 1/6/94 L Hastings, Minn. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)/NSH ('12, 4th rd., 112th overall)

This is event is usually a good draft showcase for certain players, and especially so this year with some highly-ranked first time eligible players including Michael Downing, Ian McCoshen, Ryan Fitzgerald, Taylor Cammarata, and Luke Johnson.

The US roster seems a bit on the small side, with none of their forwards measuring over 6'0" tall, but this is also one of the more skilled rosters the US has ever put together for this event, and they should be a lot of fun to watch with the speed that they possess.