Nineteen current college players have been named to the 2020 U.S. National Junior Team for the World Junior Championship, USA Hockey announced Monday.

The U.S. will compete for gold in the 2020 World Junior Championship, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in the Czech Republic. Play opens on Thursday with a preliminary round game against Canada.

USA Hockey Site

Fourteen schools had a player named to the roster. Wisconsin (four), Notre Dame (two) and Michigan (two) each had multiple representatives selected.

Western Michigan sophomore Mattias Samuelsson was named captain of the U.S. team. Wisconsin sophomore K'Andre Miller and Boston College alumnus Oliver Wahlstrom were named alternate captains.

The U.S. enters the tournament having medaled in four consecutive World Junior Championships for the first time in tournament history. Every U.S. game will be broadcast live in the States by NHL Network.

Minnesota Duluth head coach Scott Sandelin is the head coach of the 2020 U.S. National Junior Team. His assistants all coach NCAA hockey as well: David Lassonde (Dartmouth), Steve Miller (Ohio State), Brett Larson (St. Cloud State) and Jerry Keefe (Northeastern). USA Hockey assistant executive director of hockey operations John Vanbiesbrouck is the general manager of the U.S. team.