PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Defenseman Luke Hughes (Canton, Mich.) has been named captain of the 2023 U.S. National Junior Team it was announced today by USA Hockey. In addition, defenseman Sean Behrens (Barrington, Ill.) and forward Red Savage (Scottsdale, Ariz.) have been selected as alternate captains.
Team USA, which includes 25 players, conducted its final practice here at USA Hockey Arena this morning as it prepares for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The team will depart for Canada tomorrow afternoon with a pre-tournament game against Finland set for Monday (Dec. 19) in Quispamsis, New Brunswick (7 p.m. local/6 p.m. ET). The U.S. will face Sweden in a pre-tournament game on Wednesday (Dec. 21) in Moncton, New Brunswick, (3:30 p.m. local/2:30 p.m. ET) and will begin play in the IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 26 against Latvia at 5 p.m. local/4 p.m. ET.
“We’ve got a terrific leadership group with Luke, Sean and Red,” said Rand Pecknold, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team and also the head men’s ice hockey coach at Quinnipiac University. “We know they’ll use their experience and voice to help us in our ultimate goal of winning the gold medal. And while those three will be the ones wearing the letters, ultimately everyone has a role in leading this team.”
ABOUT HUGHES
Hughes was part of Team USA for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and also played for the U.S. in the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship meaning he will be making his third appearance for the U.S. on the international stage in a seven-month span. He was part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program from 2019-21 and is currently in his second season playing collegiately at the University of Michigan.
ABOUT BEHRENS
Behrens was part of Team USA for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and also played for the U.S. in the 2021 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. He spent two campaigns with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (2019-21) and is in his second season competing at the University of Denver after helping the Pioneers to the NCAA Division I national championship in his freshman year.
ABOUT SAVAGE
Savage, who played on the 2022 U.S. National Junior Team in the IIHF World Junior Championship, was also a member of Team USA for the 2021 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. He played two seasons at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (2019-21) and is currently in his second campaign playing collegiately at Miami University.
NOTES: NHL Network is the exclusive home of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in the United States and will broadcast all Team USA games live, along with many others. NHL Network will also televise Team USA's pre-tournament game on Dec. 21. The U.S. pre-tournament game on Dec. 19 will be streamed live and the link can be found here the day of the game ... Team USA began its training camp in Plymouth, Michigan, at USA Hockey Arena on Monday (Dec. 12) and has practiced daily throughout the week ... The U.S. has medaled in five of the last seven IIHF World Junior Championships.
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