Twelve former college stars are among the first 15 players named to the U.S. National Team that will compete in the 2014 World Championship, USA Hockey announced Tuesday.
Three players - Kevin Hayes (Boston College), Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell) and Jake McCabe (Wisconsin) - are on the team shortly after completing their NCAA careers.
Other representatives include Hayes's brother, Jimmy, giving Boston College two representatives on the team. Wisconsin, with McCabe, Jake Gardiner and Craig Smith, leads all schools with three.
The general manager of Team USA is former Badger star Jim Johansson, while the coaching staff includes three former college players: Peter Laviolette (Westfield State), Don Granato (Wisconsin) and Joe Sacco (Boston University).
Former College Players on Team USA
| Goaltender | |
| Connor Hellebuyck | UMass Lowell |
| Defensemen | |
| Matt Donovan | Denver |
| Jake Gardiner | Wisconsin |
| Jake McCabe | Wisconsin |
| Jeff Petry | Michigan State |
| Jacob Trouba | Michigan |
| Forwards | |
| Jimmy Hayes | Boston College |
| Kevin Hayes | Boston College |
| Brock Nelson | North Dakota |
| Drew Shore | Denver |
| Craig Smith | Wisconsin |
| Tim Stapleton | Minnesota Duluth |