Twelve current or future NCAA players helped lead the U.S. National Team to the bronze medal at the 2016 World Junior Championship, Team USA's first medal at the tournament in three years.
The Americans, led by team captain Zach Werenski (Michigan), beat Sweden 8-3 on Tuesday in the bronze medal game. Notre Dame sophomore Anders Bjork scored twice and was named the U.S. Player of the Game.
Werenski finished the tournament with 9 points in 7 games to share the lead among all defensemen and was named one of the top three players on the team by USA Hockey. North Dakota's Nick Schmaltz (8 points) and Boston College's Colin White (7) were also among the team's scoring leaders for the tournament.
Legendary Providence defenseman Ron Wilson coached the U.S. team with assistance from Danton Cole (Michigan State), Chris Chelios (Wisconsin) and Kevin Reiter (Alaska Anchorage).
NCAA Players on U.S. National Junior Team
| United States | ||
| D | Louie Belpedio | Miami |
| D | Will Borgen | St. Cloud State |
| D | Brandon Fortunato | Boston University |
| D | Chad Krys | Boston University# |
| D | Charlie McAvoy | Boston University |
| D | Zach Werenski | Michigan |
| F | Anders Bjork | Notre Dame |
| F | Brock Boeser | North Dakota |
| F | Ryan Donato | Harvard |
| F | Ryan Hitchcock | Yale |
| F | Nick Schmaltz | North Dakota |
| F | Colin White | Boston College |
| # 2016 commitment | ||