LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - The 2014 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp is underway at the Olympic Center. The 42 players and staff arrived throughout the afternoon, dropping off their gear at the rink and catching up with familiar faces. In the evening, Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team, and Mark Osiecki, head coach of the 2015 U.S. squad, conducted a meeting that set the expectations for the next eight days of camp.

The U.S. NJEC is the first step to making the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015. The U.S. has medaled in three of the last five years and won gold in 2010 and 2013. Team USA also won bronze in 2011.

Camp competition begins tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 2) evening with a scrimmage between the two U.S. squads, USA Blue and USA White. International competition will begin on Sunday (Aug. 3) with USA White playing Sweden and USA Blue taking on Finland.

Stay tuned to USAHockey.com for daily coverage, including live video and live stats for all games. Follow along and join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook, using #NJEC.