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WJC Notebook: Team Holds First Practice

By USAHockey.com, 12/15/15, 3:00PM EST

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Pre Camp Taking Place on Boston University Campus through Friday

DAY ONE -- TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 -- BOSTON
The U.S. National Junior Team opened training camp today at Agganis Arena with several intensity-packed drills. With 28 players attending camp and its first exhibition game (UMass) taking place on Friday (Dec. 18, 7p.m.), Coach Wilson and his staff included a pair of intrasquad scrimmages in hopes that the competition will help provide the players a chance to separate themselves and, ultimately, earn a spot on the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team.

"After one practice I was amazed at how compatible everyone was together," said Ron Wilson, head coach of the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, after today's practice.

CAMP OBSERVERS
The first day of the U.S. National Junior Team Training Camp included an appearance by Pierre McGuire from NBC Universal as well as U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and Stanley Cup champion, Brian Leech; and current BU men’s coach David Quinn, to name a few.

MEDIA HERE
Some 50 media credentials have been issued for the camp. John “Jocko” Connolly, who is in his 44rd year with the Boston Herald, is the dean of the media contingent gathered. 

AGGANIS ARENA
The camp is being staged at Agganis Arena on the Boston University campus. Current BU players here at camp include defensemen Brandon Fortunato (Albertson, N.Y.) and Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) as well as BU commits Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn.), Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) and Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.).

NOTES 
USA Hockey will announce the final roster for the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team by Dec. 24 … Use the hashtag #USAWJC on Twitter to join the conversation about the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team … Following its time in Boston, the U.S. will move to Vierumaki, Finland, where it will continue preparations for the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. The camp will include a game against Finland on Dec. 22 … Ron Wilson (Riverside, R.I.) is head coach of the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team. Wilson, who directed the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey team to the silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, ranks eighth all-time in National Hockey League history in wins, and is the all-time winningest American coach in NHL history … The assistant coaches for Team USA are Chris Chelios (Chicago, Ill./Detroit Red Wings), Danton Cole (Pontiac, Mich./USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program) and Kevin Reiter (Pittsburgh, Pa./USA’s Hockey’s NTDP) …Nick Siergiej (South Bend, Ind./University of Notre Dame) is the video coordinator … Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations, is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the seventh consecutive year … Ryan Martin (Simsbury, Conn./Detroit Red Wings) and Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass./USA Hockey) are assisting with player evaluation during the Boston training camp ... USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams ... At the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, the U.S. will compete in a group with Canada, Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden. All U.S. games will be broadcast live on NHL Network. For more information about the tournament, please click here.

More World Juniors News

Hayley Scamurra, in the USA Hockey navy jersey, moves the puck along the boards with a Canada opponent right at her back

Team USA Schedule

Date Opponent Location Result U.S. Player of the Game
Sat., Dec. 26 Canada Helsinki Ice Hall W, 4-2 Colin White
Mon., Dec. 28 Sweden Helsinki Ice Hall L, 0-1 Zach Werenski
Wed., Dec. 30 Switzerland Helsinki Ice Hall W, 10-1 Auston Matthews
Thu., Dec. 31 Denmark Helsinki Ice Hall W, 4-1 Brandon Carlo
Sat., Jan. 2 Czech Republic
Quarterfinals
Helsinki Ice Hall W, 7-0 Nick Schmaltz
Mon., Jan. 4 Russia
Semifinals
Hartwall Arena L, 1-2 Christian Dvorak
Tues. , Jan. 5 Sweden
Bronze Medal Game
Hartwall Arena W, 8-3 Anders Bjork

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