Seven CHL Players to Compete for USA at 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship
The CHL is proud to announce today that seven CHL players are among the 22 members of the U.S. National Junior Team as announced today by USA Hockey.
The 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship begins Dec. 26, 2011, until Jan. 5, 2012, in Edmonton and Calgary, AB.
Among those on the U.S. roster are seven returning players from the bronze medal-winning 2011 U.S. National Junior Team, including goaltender Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich./Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), and forward Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif./Medicine Hat Tigers).
Campbell was also a member of the gold medal-winning 2010 U.S. National Junior Team.
CHL Players on Team USA:
Goaltenders:
Jack Campbell (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
John Gibson (Kitchener Rangers)
Defencemen:
Jarred Tinordi (London Knights)
Forwards:
Emerson Etem (Medicine Hat Tigers)
JT Miller (Plymouth Whalers)
Brandon Saad (Saginaw Spirit)
Austin Watson (Peterborough Petes)
In addition to the seven current CHL players listed above, returning Team USA forward Charlie Coyle will join the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs following the tournament.
“Every year this decision seems to get harder,” said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “The number of talented players from which we get to form a team says a lot about hockey’s growth in the United States as a whole.”
“Having been behind the bench when we won the gold medal two years ago, I can’t wait to get started again,” said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. “This is an incredible group of players whose speed and tenacity should help us succeed in Edmonton and Calgary.”
The U.S. will look to earn its third straight medal after capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., and the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask.
For the complete roster, click here.
The U.S. National Junior Team is currently in the midst of a pre-tournament camp taking place in Alberta, Canada. Team USA has already taken part in two pre-tournament games, and will play its final pre-tournament contest tomorrow (Dec. 23) against Slovakia in Three Hills, AB.
