Wednesday, November 12, 2014

21 Commits Named to U.S. Team

U.S. Junior Select Team, made up of USHL stars, to compete in World Junior A Challenge Dec. 14-20.


21 Commits Named to U.S. Team
UMD recruit Neal Pionk returns to the U.S. Junior Select Team after earning all-tournament honors at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge.

Twenty-one future college players have been named to the 2014 U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete in the 2014 World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 14-20 in Kindersley, Sask., USA Hockey announced Wednesday.

The 21 players – all of whom play in the USHL – are committed to 14 Division I programs. Minnesota leads all schools with three commits on the roster, while Denver, North Dakota, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Yale have two each.

USA Hockey Announcement

Four players on the roster helped the U.S. win the 2013 event: Michigan recruit Kyle Connor, Minnesota Duluth recruit Neal Pionk, Wisconsin recruit Seamus Malone and Notre Dame recruit Andrew Oglevie.

In addition, four players on the team have been drafted by NHL teams: Cornell recruit Anthony Angello (PIT), Ohio State recruit Dakota Joshua (TOR), North Dakota recruit Shane Gersich (WSH) and Providence recruit Hayden Hawkey (MTL). The other 17 players are all eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Hawkey was the lone goaltender named to the team today, as a second goaltender will be added in the future.

Former Union forward Jay Varady – in his second season as head coach and director of hockey operations with the Sioux City Musketeers – is the head coach of the team. He is assisted by Miami alum Brian Kaufman and Wisconsin Eau-Claire alum Keith Paulsen.

2014 U.S. Junior Select Team

Forwards USHL Team NCAA Commitment
7 Dylan Gambrell Dubuque Denver
9 Seamus Malone Dubuque Wisconsin
10 Andrew Oglevie Cedar Rapids Notre Dame
12 Brock Boeser Waterloo Wisconsin
14 Dakota Joshua Sioux Falls Ohio State
15 Thomas Novak Waterloo Minnesota
16 Shane Gersich Omaha North Dakota
17 Anthony Angello Omaha Cornell
18 Kyle Connor Youngstown Michigan
19 Joe Snively Sioux City Yale
20 Adam Gaudette Cedar Rapids Northeastern
21 Robby Jackson Chicago St. Cloud State
22 Tyler Sheehy Waterloo Minnesota
Defensemen
2 Mitch Reinke Cedar Rapids Michigan Tech
3 Ryan Zuhlsdorf Sioux City Minnesota
4 Blake Hillman Dubuque Denver
5 Neal Pionk Sioux City Minnesota Duluth
6 Charles Curti Cedar Rapids Yale
11 Bobby Nardella Tri-City Notre Dame
24 Hayden Shaw Waterloo North Dakota
Goaltender
1 Hayden Hawkey Omaha Providence