COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today named 31 players to the preliminary roster of its 2022 U.S. National Junior Team. The group, which includes six members of the gold medal-winning 2021 U.S. National Junior Team and two members of the bronze medal-winning 2021 U.S. Men’s National Team, will gather for a training camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., starting Dec. 12.
Players are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship set for Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from Dec. 26, 2021 – Jan. 5, 2022.
“We’re excited about the group we’ve named to the preliminary roster,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2022 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “Thanks to the efforts of so many coaches and volunteers across the country, our talent pool is deep, and we’ll have some very difficult decisions to make to get to our final roster.”
The 31 players, comprised of the top American players born in 2002 or later, hail from 18 different states. A total of 28 players are currently playing, or are committed to play college hockey.
NOTES: Nate Leaman (East Greenwich, Rhode Island/Providence College) is the head coach of the 2022 U.S. National Junior Team with Ted Donato (Scituate, Massachusetts/Harvard University), Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, Pa./Colorado College), and Steve Miller (Sun Prairie, Wis./Ohio State University) serving as assistant coaches, and Theresa Feaster (Providence, R.I./Providence College) as video coach … The United States enters the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship having earned medals in five of the last six tournaments, including most recently winning its fifth gold medal in 2021 in Edmonton, Alberta. To date, the U.S. National Junior Team has claimed 13 medals, including five gold (2021, 2017, 2013, 2010, 2004), two silver (2019, 1997) and six bronze (2018, 2016, 2011, 2007, 1992, 1986).