Top prospect McCoshen leads U.S. Junior roster

USA Hockey on Thursday announced the roster for the U.S. Junior Select Team that will participate in the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, Nov. 5-11, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

The United States won three straight World Junior A Challenge titles from 2008 to 2010 before finishing third last year.

The 22-player roster includes 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies.

Three players from last year's team are on the 2012 roster, including Waterloo Black Hawks defenseman Ian McCoshen.

McCoshen is one of three players who earned an A rating on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary rankings of players to watch for the 2013 NHL Draft.

Dubuque Fighting Saints defenseman Mike Downing and Lincoln Stars forward Luke Johnson also are A skaters.

McCoshen, Downing and Johnson also were three of the six players on the roster who took part in the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Sept. 29 in Buffalo. Also skating in that game were goalie Eamon McAdam, and forwards Taylor Cammarata and Ryan Fitzgerald.

In addition to the United States, the 2012 World Junior A Challenge will feature two teams from Canada (East and West), as well as teams from Russia, Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Brett Larson, in his second season as coach/general manager of the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League, will coach the U.S. team. He led the Musketeers to the 2012 Clark Cup Western Conference quarterfinals in his first season.

The United States opens the tournament against Canada East on Nov. 5, then plays Switzerland the following evening. The tournament quarterfinal round is slated for Nov. 8, the semifinals Nov. 9, and the fifth-place/bronze-medal game Nov. 10. The gold-medal game will be played Nov. 11.

2012 U.S. JUNIOR SELECT ROSTER

Goalies: Michael Bitzer, Lincoln, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Eamon McAdam, Waterloo, USHL (2013 eligible)

Defense: Ian Brady, Cedar Rapids, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Mike Downing, Dubuque, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Blake Heinrich, Sioux City, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Dan Molenaar, Sioux City, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Ian McCoshen, Waterloo, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Jaccob Slavin, Chicago, USHL (Carolina); Justin Woods, Lincoln, USHL (2013 draft eligible)

Forwards: Robbie Baillargeon, Indiana, USHL (Ottawa); Taylor Cammarata, Waterloo, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Austin Cangelosi, Youngstown, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Sheldon Dries, Green Bay, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Thomas Ebbing, Chicago, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Ryan Fitzgerald, Valley Jr. Warriors, EJHL (2013 draft eligible); Vincent Hinostroza, Waterloo, USHL (Chicago); Luke Johnson, Lincoln, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Alex Kile, Green Bay, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Justin Kloos, Waterloo, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Nicholas Schilkey, Green Bay, USHL (2013 draft eligible); J.T. Stenglein, Youngstown, USHL (2013 draft eligible); Zach Stepan, Waterloo, USHL (Nashville)

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