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First 21 Players Named to U.S. Junior Select Team Roster

By USA Hockey, 11/16/22, 12:00PM EST

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Team will compete in World Junior A Challenge Dec. 11-18 in Cornwall, Ontario

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced the first 21 players for the U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete in the 2022 World Junior A Challenge from Dec. 11-18 in Cornwall, Ontario. The U.S. has won five of the last eight tournaments (2018, 2016, 2012-14).

The group includes 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders.

All players currently compete in the United States Hockey League, the only Tier I junior hockey league in the U.S.

The roster is highlighted by five players selected in the 2022 NHL Draft, including Sam Rinzel (Chanhassen, Minn./Waterloo Black Hawks), who was chosen with the 15th overall pick in the first round by the Chicago Blackhawks; Quinn Finley (Suamico, Wis./Madison Capitols), who was selected by the New York Islanders (3rd round/78th overall); Winnipeg Jets fourth round (99th overall) selection Garret Brown (San Jose, Calif./Sioux City Musketeers); Alex Bump (Prior Lake, Minn./Omaha Lancers), taken in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Flyers (133rd); and Jake Richard (Jacksonville, Fla./Muskegon Lumberjacks), drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round (170th).

2022 Junior Select Team Roster

2022 WJAC

Several players have represented the U.S. at previous international events. Ryan St. Louis (Burlington, Vt./Dubuque Fighting Saints) competed at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, the 2020 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, 2019 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament and 2019 World Under-17 Challenge.

Additionally, Gavin McCarthy (Clarence Center, N.Y./Muskegon Lumberjacks), Andrew Strathmann (Beach Park, Ill./Youngstown Phantoms) and Tanner Adams (Northport, N.Y./Tri-City Storm) competed together for the U.S. at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2021 Five Nations Tournament.

Five players have also competed in the BioSteel All-American Game, an annual event featuring the top American players eligible for the NHL Draft, including Maddox Fleming (Rochester, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede), Cole Knuble (Grand Rapids, Mich./Fargo Force), Brown and Rinzel in the 2022 game, while St. Louis took part in the 2021 event.

The U.S. will play a pre-tournament game against Canada East at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 9 at the Cornwall Civic Complex in Cornwall, Ontario. Team USA will kick off tournament play at 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 11 against Canada West.

Notes: All games of the World Junior A Challenge will be streamed live and the link will be available on the 2022 World Junior A homepage … Twelve USHL teams are represented on the roster … The Muskegon Lumberjacks lead the way with four players … The 21 players come from 10 different states … Minnesota boasts the most representatives with eight … Marc Boxer (Hancock, Mich.) is the general manager of the 2022 U.S. Junior Select Team. Eric Rud (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede) will serve as head coach, with assistant coaches Evan Dixon (Novi, Mich./Dubuque Fighting Saints), Mike Leone (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Green Bay Gamblers) and Matt Smaby (Minneapolis, Minn./Waterloo Black Hawks). Additionally, Spenser Popinga (Waterloo, Iowa/Waterloo Black Hawks) will serve as strength & conditioning coach/equipment manager; Corey Courtney (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Stars) as trainer/equipment manager; and Dr. Kevin Murray (San Jose, Calif.) as team doctor. Ted Belisle (Bemidji, Minn./Los Angeles Kings), Rod Braceful (Detroit, Mich./Chicago Blackhawks), John Burkart (South Lyon, Mich./Tampa Bay Lightning) and Rick Comley (Plymouth, Mich./Arizona Coyotes) will serve as player personnel … The 2022 World Junior A Challenge field includes Canada East, Canada West, Czechia, Latvia, Sweden and the United States.

U.S. Schedule & Results

Date Opponent/Round Local Time (ET)/Result Location Player of Game Stats
Fri., Dec. 9 Canada East
Pre-Tournament
W, 6-1 Cornwall Civic Complex
Cornwall, Ont.
-- Live Stats
Sun., Dec. 11 Canada West
Preliminary
L, 5-3 Cornwall Civic Complex
Cornwall, Ont.
Cole Knuble Live Stats
Tues., Dec 13 Sweden
Preliminary
W, 3-0 Cornwall Civic Complex
Cornwall, Ont.
Jacob Fowler Live Stats
Wed., Dec 14 Canada East
Preliminary
W, 7-2 Cornwall Civic Complex
Cornwall, Ont.
Garrett Schifsky Live Stats
Fri., Dec 16 Latvia
Preliminary
W, 9-0 Cornwall Civic Complex
Cornwall, Ont.
Eric Pohlkamp Live Stats
Sat., Dec. 17 Sweden
Semifinals
W, 4-3 Cornwall Civic Complex
Cornwall, Ont.
Eric Pohlkamp Live Stats
Sun., Dec. 18 Canada East
Championship Game
W, 5-2 Cornwall Civic Complex
Cornwall, Ont.
Jacob Fowler Live Stats

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