Team USA finalized its world junior roster. Here’s what you need to know:
- The forwards are: Jackson Blake, Gavin Brindley, Tyler Boucher, Kenny Connors, Logan Cooley, Dylan Duke, Cutter Gauthier, Noah Laba, Sam Lipkin, Chaz Lucius, Rutger McGroarty, Red Savage, Jimmy Snuggerud and Charlie Stramel.
- The defensemen are: Sean Behrens, Seamus Casey, Ryan Chesley, Luke Hughes, Lane Hutson, Luke Mittelstadt, Jack Peart and Ryan Ufko.
- The goaltenders are: Trey Augustine, Kaidan Mbereko, Andrew Oke.
- The tournament will run Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Halifax, NS and Moncton, NB
- The team’s head coach is Rand Pecknold, also the head coach of Quinnipiac. Former NHLer John Vanbiesbrouck is the general manager.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
A small, offensive defense for Team USA
No big surprises in today’s final rounds of cuts. I am pleasantly shocked at how many of their under-6-feet defensemen they brought. Hockey Canada elected to bring a big group on the back end and the cut of the 6-foot-3, 200-plus pound Shai Buium on Team USA’s blue line signals a different makeup. All of Lane Hutson, Sean Behrens, Seamus Casey, Ryan Ufko and Jack Peart are on the smaller side to varying degrees.
I think that’s the right call for this group given the small number of truly high-end talents they have up front. The American forwards have good depth, but they’re going to demand a lot from Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier and Jimmy Snuggerud especially if Chaz Lucius isn’t operating at 100 percent. Having a blue line that can chip in offensively will be key. — Wheeler
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(Photo: Jason Franson / The Canadian Press via AP)
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