DECEMBER 23: DAY Nine

Greetings from snowy Buffalo, New York. The U.S. National Junior Team arrived late last night after its 3-1 victory over Sweden in Erie, Pa. This morning, the U.S. unveiled its final, 23-player roster, and also named defensemen Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y./Harvard University) and Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn./University of Minnesota) and forward Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn./Portland Winterhawks) as its alternate captains.

U.S. SOLIDIFIES LEADERSHIP GROUP
Along with naming its final 23-player roster, the U.S. tabbed forward forward Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn./Portland Winterhawks) and defensemen Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y./Harvard University) and Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn./University of Minnesota) alternate captains of the squad. Forward Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth) was named captain of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team on Dec. 18.
    "We're excited about our veteran leadership group here in Buffalo," said Bob Motzko, head coach of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team. "Joey, Kieffer, Ryan and Adam have the respect of everybody in the room and we have complete confidence that they can lead this group of players to a gold medal here on home ice."

ANDERSON BROTHERS JOIN FERRARO’S, BROTEN’S
With the roster complete, U.S. brothers Joey and Mikey Anderson of Roseville, Minnesota, become just the third brothers to be named to the same U.S. National Junior Team. Fellow Minnesotans Neal and Aaron Broten were the first to accomplish the feat in 1979, just one year before Neal went on to be a part of the ‘Miracle on Ice’ 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. The other brothers to skate together were Port Jefferson, New York, natives Peter and Chris Ferraro, who skated together on both the 1992 and 1993 U.S. National Junior Teams. In addition to this year’s U.S. National Junior Team, the Anderson brothers are teammates at the University of Minnesota Duluth during the regular season.

DULUTH BULLDOGS WELL REPRESENTED
Of the 23 players on this year’s roster, five hail from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Joining 2017 gold medalist and 2018 U.S. captain Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn.) on this year’s roster are his brother, Mikey Anderson (Roseville, Minn.) as well as Scott Perunovich (Hibbing, Minn.), Dylan Samberg (Hermantown, Minn.) and Riley Tufte (Ham Lake, Minn.). This is the second year a team will have at least five players represent the United States after the Boston University Terriers had six players skate for the U.S. a year ago.

COACH BROWN’S BUFFALO TIES
U.S. National Junior Team assistant coach, Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass./Boston College), was drafted in the second round, 26th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1986 NHL Draft. After amassing 120 points in 119 games with the Boston College Eagles, Brown made his professional debut in 1990-91 when he split time between the Sabres and its AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In total, he spent three seasons with the Sabres organization, collecting four points (1-3) in 49 games with the Sabres and adding another 90 points (20-70) during his time in Rochester.