United States junior coach happy camper

BUFFALO -- United States national junior team coach Bob Motzko likes what he sees after two days of practice at the USA Hockey national team selection camp at HarborCenter.
The selection camp will run through Tuesday before the team heads to Oshawa and Kingston, Ontario, for exhibition games against Switzerland on Dec. 21 and Czech Republic on Dec. 23. Camp opened on Friday and Motzko said the group is already bonding. The United States begins the 2017 World Junior Championship on Dec. 26 at Latvia to Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

"What I've liked most, and we saw it this summer and we're already seeing it now, is there's a little vibe in the room," Motzko said. "This group, there's a little twinkle in their eye. They get along, a little bit on a mission. There's a cohesiveness in that group and it's something that's hard to describe. There's a little something going on in that room that we really like."
Part of the chemistry can be credited to the return of defensemen Chad Krys and Charlie McAvoy and forward Colin White from the team that won bronze at the 2016 World Junior.

Forward Brock Boeser was also named to the preliminary roster, but won't be able to compete in the 2017 WJC because he had wrist surgery on Dec. 14.
Having returning players helps, but the early part of training camp is geared toward determining which players work best with each other and in what situations.
"We're building a team," Motzko said. "Chemistry is such a big part of line combinations, special teams, power plays and you can't wish it; it takes time for it to happen. That's why we have patience and also knowing days are going to click by quick and we're going to be there."
Motzko said the plan is to make cuts after the first exhibition game in Oshawa, but that could change depending on how camp progresses.
On Saturday, Motzko said he can see improvement each day.
"You see the speed limit went up today," Motzko said. "The nerves yesterday, battled through it, much more comfortable today. Today was an impressive day; you see that little building block from day one to day two and move forward."