Monday, December 22, 2014
U.S. Claims Third Straight WJAC
Team filled with future NCAA stars from the USHL beats Denmark in OT title game.
A roster filled with future NCAA players from the USHL led the United States to a third consecutive championship at the World Junior A Challenge, culminating with an overtime win against Denmark Saturday in Kindersley, Sask.
Minnesota commit Thomas Novak (River Falls, Wis./Waterloo-USHL) scored the winning goal on a breakaway 4:56 into overtime to secure the 3-2 victory. The U.S. finished 4-0-0 in the tournament and has won 13 straight games in the WJAC.
Nineteen players on the 22-man U.S. roster have committed to 12 different NCAA schools, with Minnesota and North Dakota leading the way with three each. Denver, Notre Dame and Yale all had two recruits on the team.
Two commits – Novak and defenseman Christian Wolanin (North Dakota) – earned spots on the all-tournament team, while uncommitted U.S. goalie Eric Schierhorn and Canada East defenseman Callum Fryer were also honored.
2014 U.S. Junior Select Team
| Goaltenders | ||
| Cale Morris | Chicago | Uncommitted |
| Eric Schierhorn | Muskegon | Uncommitted |
| Defensemen | ||
| Charlie Curti | Cedar Rapids | Yale |
| Blake Hillman | Dubuque | Denver |
| Bobby Nardella | Tri-City | Notre Dame |
| Mitch Reinke | Cedar Rapids | Michigan Tech |
| Hayden Shaw | Waterloo | North Dakota |
| Christian Wolanin | Muskegon | North Dakota |
| Ryan Zuhlsdorf | Sioux City | Minnesota |
| Forwards | ||
| Anthony Angello | Omaha | Cornell |
| Mason Bergh | Chicago | Colorado College |
| Brock Boeser | Waterloo | Uncommitted |
| Kyle Connor | Youngstown | Michigan |
| Dylan Gambrell | Dubuque | Denver |
| Adam Gaudette | Cedar Rapids | Northeastern |
| Shane Gersich | Omaha | North Dakota |
| Dakota Joshua | Sioux Falls | Ohio State |
| Seamus Malone | Dubuque | Wisconsin |
| Thomas Novak | Waterloo | Minnesota |
| Andrew Oglevie | Cedar Rapids | Notre Dame |
| Tylr Sheehy | Waterloo | Minnesota |
| Joe Snively | Sioux City | Yale |