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.
2012 U.S. JUNIOR SELECT ROSTER
Goalies:
Michael Bitzer, Lincoln, USHL (2013 draft eligible)
Eamon McAdam, Waterloo, USHL (2013)
Defense:
Ian Brady, Cedar Rapids, USHL (2013)
Mike Downing, Dubuque, USHL (2013)
Blake Heinrich, Sioux City, USHL (2013)
Dan Molenaar, Sioux City, USHL (2013)
Ian McCoshen, Waterloo, USHL (2013)
Jaccob Slavin, Chicago, USHL (Carolina)
Justin Woods, Lincoln, USHL (2013)
Forwards:
Robbie Baillargeon, Indiana, USHL (Ottawa)
Taylor Cammarata, Waterloo, USHL (2013)
Austin Cangelosi, Youngstown, USHL (2013)
Sheldon Dries, Green Bay, USHL (2013)
Thomas Ebbing, Chicago, USHL (2013)
Ryan Fitzgerald, Valley Jr. Warriors, EJHL (2013)
Vincent Hinostroza, Waterloo, USHL (Chicago)
Luke Johnson, Lincoln, USHL (2013)
Alex Kile, Green Bay, USHL (2013)
Justin Kloos, Waterloo, USHL (2013)
Nicholas Schilkey, Green Bay, USHL (2013)
J.T. Stenglein, Youngstown, USHL (2013)
Zach Stepan, Waterloo, USHL (Nashville)
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.
Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale
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