Drew Helleson to Represent United States at 2021 World Juniors

Colorado Avalanche prospect Drew Helleson has been selected to represent the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, USA Hockey announced on Saturday morning. The defenseman is one of four Avs prospects participating in the 2021 World Juniors as
forward Alex Newhook and defensemen Justin Barron and Bowen Byram  will represent Team Canada.

Helleson, who was selected by Colorado in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft, is heading to his first World Junior Championship. The 19-year-old spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2017-2019 and recorded 63 points (10 goals, 53 assists) and a plus-30 rating in 125 career games. He helped Team USA capture the bronze medal at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship in Sweden and earned a gold medal at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The defenseman is in his sophomore campaign at Boston College after recording six points (one goal, five assists) in 28 games in his freshman season in 2019-20.
The United States will take on Switzerland and Finland in exhibition games on Dec. 20 and Dec. 22, respectively, before playing its first preliminary-round game on Dec. 25 against Russia.
The 2021 World Juniors are taking place at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, and begin on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2020, and run through Jan. 5, 2021.