Monday, December 26, 2022
World Juniors to feature more than 40 NCAA players
Upcoming tournament begins Dec. 26 in Nova Scotia
Forty-two current, committed and former NCAA Division I men’s hockey players will compete in the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship, which gets underway today in Halifax and Moncton, Nova Scotia.
Six of the 10 competing countries will have NCAA representation, led by the United States (23) and Latvia (10). Twenty-four different NCAA Division I men’s teams, covering all six conferences, will be represented during the tournament. Michigan leads with six players, followed by Minnesota’s five and three each from Massachusetts and St. Cloud State. Nine schools will boast multiple players on tournament rosters.
CANADA (1)
F Adam Fantilli, Michigan
CZECHIA (1)
F Jaroslav Chmelar, Providence
FINLAND (2)
G Aku Koskenvuo, Harvard
F Verner Miettinen, St. Cloud St.*
LATVIA (10)
G Patriks Bērziņš, Maine*
F Rainers Dārziņš, Niagara*
F Martins Lavins, St. Cloud St.*
G Linards Lipskis, Northern Michigan*
F Dans Ločmelis, Massachusetts*
G Kārlis Mežsargs, UMass Lowell*
D Gustavs Ozoliņš, Bemidji State*
F Pēteris Purmalis, Lake Superior St.*
F Girts Silkalns, UMass Lowell*
F Klāvs Veinbergs, Minnesota State*
SLOVAKIA (5)
D Simon Becar, Maine*
G Adam Gajan, Minnesota Duluth*
F Libor Nemec, Lake Superior St.*
D Maxim Štrbák, Michigan St.*
F Adam Zlnka, Northeastern*
UNITED STATES (23)
G Trey Augustine, Michigan St.*
D Sean Behrens, Denver
F Jackson Blake, North Dakota
F Gavin Brindley, Michigan
D Seamus Casey, Michigan
D Ryan Chesley, Minnesota
F Kenny Connors, Massachusetts
F Logan Cooley, Minnesota
F Dylan Duke, Michigan
F Cutter Gauthier, Boston College
D Luke Hughes, Michigan
D Lane Hutson, Boston University
F Noah Laba, Colorado College
F Sam Lipkin, Quinnipiac
F Chaz Lucius, Minnesota**
G Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College
F Rutger McGroarty, Michigan
D Luke Mittelstadt, Minnesota
D Jack Peart, St. Cloud St.
F Red Savage, Miami
F Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota
F Charlie Stramel, Wisconsin
D Ryan Ufko, Massachusetts
* indicates NCAA commitment
** now with AHL’s Manitoba Moose
The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship takes place Dec. 26, 2022, through Jan 5, 2023, in Halifax and Moncton.
The tournament can be seen on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada. For more information, visit IIHF.com.