Lakeville's Jake Oettinger. Credit: Courtesy YHH.
From usahockey.com:
Twenty-seven players, including five members of the bronze-medal winning 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, have been named to the preliminary rosterfor the 2017 U.S. National Junior Team.
The announcement was made yesterday by USA Hockey on NHL Network's "NHL Now." The group is auditioning for a spot on the final 23-man roster that will represent the United States in the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2016 - Jan. 5, 2017, in Montreal and Toronto, Canada.
"This is a talented, versatile group of players that has found success across all levels of hockey," saidJim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations and the general manager of the 2017 U.S. National Junior Team.
"There is depth at every position, and while we still have some difficult decisionsto make, we feel each of these players can fit the style of hockey Coach Motzko (U.S. and St. Cloud State University head coach Bob Motzko) first implemented at our National Junior Evaluation Camp last August."
Six Minnesotans were named to the preliminary roster, including:
- Jake Oettinger, G, Lakeville
- Ryan Lindgren, D, Minneapolis
- Jack Ahcan, D, Savage
- Joey Anderson, F, Roseville
- Brock Boeser, F, Burnsville
- Kieffer Bellows, F, Edina
Read more atusahockey.com
Edina's Kieffer Bellows. Credit: Courtesy YHH.
