Turgeon to help U.S. effort at Hlinka tournament

Dominic Turgeon, a candidate to hear his name called early at the 2014 NHL Draft, was one of 22 players picked to represent the United States at the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

The tournament, which runs Aug. 3-10, will be held in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia. The United States will be in Group B, along with Finland, Russia and Slovakia.

Turgeon, a 6-foot-1.5, 211-pound center, had eight points in 54 games as a rookie last season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, and saw action in five playoff games as Portland won the WHL title. He is the son of former NHL star Pierre Turgeon.

Also among the top 2014 prospects picked for the team is goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who went 19-2-2 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 26 games with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League last season, and emerged as the team's No. 1 goalie in the OHL playoffs, posting a 2.71 GAA and .908 save percentage in 15 games as Plymouth reached the OHL semifinals.

Of the 22 players picked, 18 are eligible for the 2014 draft, with four eligible for 2015 -- defenseman Brandon Carlo, and forwards Paul Bittner, Kyle Connor and Jake Wahlin.

Former NHL player Bob Corkum, who now serves as the New York Islanders development coach, will coach the team.

Follow Adam Kimelman on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

U.S. HLINKA TOURNAMENT ROSTER

GOALTENDERS: Alex Nedeljkovic, Plymouth, OHL; Blake Weyrick, USA U-18, USHL

DEFEENSEMEN: *Brandon Carlo, Tri-City, WHL; Jack Dougherty, USA U-18, USHL; Aaron Haydon, Niagara, OHL; Ryan Mantha, Sioux City, USHL; Robert Nardella, Sioux City, USHL; Jerad Rosburg, Cedar Rapids, USHL; Nick Wolff, Eagan, HIGH-MN

FORWARDS: *Paul Bittner, Portland, WHL; *Kyle Connor, Youngstown, USHL; Joey Dudek, Kimball Union, HIGH-NH; Keegan Iverson, Portland, WHL; Dylan Malmquist, Edina, HIGH-MN; Cody Milan, Sioux Falls, USHL; Chase Phelps, Shattuck-St. Mary's, HIGH-MN; Austin Poganski, Tri-City, USHL; Nick Schmaltz, Green Bay, USHL; Joe Snively, Sioux City, USHL; Dominic Turgeon, Portland, WHL; Ryan Wagner, Cedar Rapids, USHL; *Jake Wahlin, Des Moines, USHL

*- eligible for 2015 NHL Draft