COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Beginning Saturday (Dec. 15), a total of 29 players will begin training camp in Everett, Wash., in hopes of landing a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2018 – Jan. 5, 2019, in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.

“We have 29 great hockey players arriving in Everett this week and we’re excited to see them come together and compete as they look to earn a chance to represent our country,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey and the general manager of the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team.

The U.S. camp in Everett, Wash., which will run from Dec. 15-17 at Angel of the Winds Arena, is part of the selection process in determining the final Team USA roster for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.

For the complete training camp schedule, click here.

PRE-TOURNAMENT GAMES
Following its camp in Everett, Team USA will travel to Kamloops where it will train at Sandman Centre from Dec. 18-20. During its time in Kamloops, Team USA will face off against Russia in a pre-tournament game at Sandman Centre on Dec. 20. The U.S. will then travel to Langley, B.C., to meet the Czech Republic in its final pre-tournament game at George Preston Recreation Centre on Dec. 22. Faceoff for both tilts are set for 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. ET).

U.S. PRELIMINARY ROSTER
The 29-player preliminary roster for the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team was unveiled last Wednesday (Dec. 5) on NHL Network. Among those named to the roster are five members of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team that earned the bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., including defensemen Mikey Anderson (Roseville, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth), Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla./University of Michigan) and Dylan Samberg(Hermantown, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth) and forwards Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich./University of Michigan) and Ryan Poehling (Lakeville, Minn./St. Cloud State University). Additionally, 25 players have been drafted or signed by an NHL team, including two Vancouver Canucks draft picks in 2018 selections Quinn Hughes (first round, 7th overall) and Tyler Madden (third round, 68th overall).

NOTES: Over the last 10 seasons, the number of players part of USA Hockey in the Seattle metropolitan area, which includes Bellevue, has increased by 46% … USA Hockey expects to name its final 23-player roster for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship by Dec. 23 … The U.S. enters the tournament having medaled in three straight World Junior Championships for the first time in U.S. history after earning gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018 and 2016 … Mike Hastings (Crookston, Minn./Minnesota State University) is the head coach of Team USA … 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 … NHL Network is the official U.S. broadcaster of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship … Team USA will play its preliminary round games in Victoria against Group B opponents Kazakhstan, Finland, Slovakia and Sweden. Quarterfinals will be split between the Vancouver and Victoria. The semifinal and medal games will be played at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. For more information about the tournament, click here.