NHL Draft prospects top U.S. World Junior A roster

USA Hockey on Thursday announced the roster for the World Junior A Challenge, to be held Nov. 4-10 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

All players on the 22-man roster play in the United States Hockey League.

The six-team international tournament features the United States, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland, and two teams from Canada -- West and East. The U.S. will open the tournament against Russia on Nov. 5.

The roster includes three players selected in the 2013 NHL Draft, including a pair taken by the Buffalo Sabres -- forward Connor Hurley, a second-round pick (No. 38) playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, and goaltender Calvin Petersen, a fifth-round selection (No. 129) playing for the Waterloo Black Hawks. Also picked for the team was Fargo Force forward Teemu Kivihalme, a fifth-round pick (No. 140) of the Nashville Predators.

The roster includes 17 players eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft, including forward Nick Schmaltz of the Green Bay Gamblers, who was one of three USHL skaters to receive an "A" rating from NHL Central Scouting on its preliminary players to watch list for the USHL.

In addition, two players picked for the team -- forward Kyle Connor of the Youngstown Phantoms and goalie Chris Birdsall of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders -- won't be NHL draft eligible until 2015.

The U.S. has won the World Junior A Challenge in four of the last five years.

The United States will be coached by Green Bay coach Derek Lalonde. He will be assisted by Anthony Noreen (Youngstown) and Mark Abalan (Sioux City Musketeers).

U.S. WORLD JUNIOR A ROSTER

Goaltenders: Chris Birdsall, Cedar Rapids (2015 NHL Draft eligible); Calvin Petersen, Waterloo (Buffalo Sabres).

Defensemen: Jordan Gross, Green Bay (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Josh Jacobs, Indiana (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Steven Johnson, Omaha (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Teemu Kivihalme, Fargo (Nashville Predators); Clark Kuster, Cedar Rapids (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Ryan Mantha, Sioux City (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Neal Pionk, Sioux City (2014 NHL Draft eligible).

Forwards: Kyle Connor, Youngstown (2015 NHL Draft eligible); Shane Eiserman, Dubuque (2014 NHL Draft eligible); C.J. Franklin, Sioux Falls (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Marcel Godbout, Des Moines (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Connor Hurley, Muskegon (Buffalo Sabres); Zeb Knutson, Sioux Falls (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Dennis Kravchenko, Sioux Falls (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Seamus Malone, Dubuque (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Andrew Oglevie, Cedar Rapids (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Austin Poganski, Tri-City (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Nick Schmaltz, Green Bay (2014 NHL Draft eligible); Matthew Weis, Green Bay (2014 NHL Draft eligible).