2015 WJC Archive:
The Truth About Jack Eichel
USA Announces Preliminary Roster
I went to the BC-Michigan game last night as it was in Boston and I'm in town for Team USA's Selection Camp to be held at BU's Walter Brown Arena and there were 10 potential Team USA players on the combined rosters. The Eagles won 5-1, but the score was not exactly reflective of how the game panned out. The Wolverines fired 96 shots fired in Thatcher Demko's direction - 42 made it to him, a whopping 29 were blocked and only one snuck past him...a power play goal by likely Team USA teammate Dylan Larkin. Michigan goalie Zach Nagelvoort struggled and BC capitalized on their chances early and jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game and were able to rely on the stellar play of Demko for the next 52 minutes.
The good news for USA fans looking ahead to the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship is that Demko was on his game 100%. He faced a ton of shots and played great...a solid confidence booster heading into camp on Tuesday.
In more Team USA news, I spoke with BC head coach Jerry York after the game and he told me sophomore defenseman Steve Santini, who was on last year's USA National Junior Team in Malmo, is scheduled to have the pins removed in his wrist on December 22nd and the doctors say he will be available to play the very next day. He's not taken any contact, but has been keeping up with his conditioning. It's unknown how much he will be involved in Team USA's selection camp on the ice, but it's obvious that the powers that be want him in the mix come December 26th and why not? He's a BAMF who shuts down the opposition and blocks shots and eats up major minutes. Like I said when he had surgery in November, he's not known for his hands. If he can hold a stick, he's on this team.
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In related news, there are a handful of other NCAA players on the preliminary rosters of other countries...
Finland:
Erik Autio - Penn State (attended their evaluation camp in Lake Placid this summer)
Mika Ilvonen - St Cloud State (
great article about the unexpected book he's seriously considering bringing to Toronto)
Germany:
Yanik Moser - Ohio State
Frederik Tiffels - Western Michigan (a two-year veteran at the WJC)
Sweden:
Leon Bristedt - Minnesota
Germany has also invited Parker Tuomie and Marc Michaelis who currently play in the USHL and are committed to Minnesota State.
Team USA's 30 man preliminary roster has 18 college players, two recruits and one player who has not yet announced where he's going to play next season.
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Team USA selection camp starts at 10am Tuesday with a media session featuring GM Jim Johansson and head coach Mark Osiecki. I'll be writing features/blogs every afternoon after their on ice sessions, but for up to the minute info, be sure to follow me on twitter...
Julie
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