Boston University flavor to U.S. World Junior team

Boston College forward Colin White knows that no matter where he looks on the ice or in the locker room, he sees another player from Boston University on the United States team for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.
"I couldn't get away from these guys in development camp in August or selection camp prior to the tournament," White said, tongue in cheek. "[Boston University defenseman] Charlie McAvoy is my roommate."

In addition to McAvoy, a Boston Bruins prospect, also making the 23-man roster were goaltender Jake Oettinger (2017 draft eligible) and forwards Patrick Harper (Nashville Predators), Jordan Greenway (Minnesota Wild), Clayton Keller (Arizona Coyotes) and Kieffer Bellows (New York Islanders). Boston University defenseman Chad Krys (Chicago Blackhawks) was released from the team Friday.
The 2017 WJC, which will be held in Montreal and Toronto, starts Monday and runs through Jan. 5. The U.S. opens the preliminary round against Latvia at Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Monday (3:30 p.m. ET; NHLN). It also plays Slovakia, Russia and Canada in Group B.

The last time as many as six players from the same team played for the United States at the WJC was 1979, when the University of Minnesota sent six players to Sweden: Aaron Broten, Neal Broten, Bryan Erickson, Jim Jetland, Mike Ramsey and Steve Ulseth.
If you include the three players from Boston College (White, goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Casey Fitzgerald), and Harvard University defenseman Adam Fox, 43.5 percent (10 of 23) of the U.S. roster is made up of players attending Massachusetts-based colleges.
Additionally, Boston University defenseman Dante Fabbro (Nashville Predators), of Coquitlam, British Columbia, will play for Canada at the 2017 WJC.
"It's a college hockey hotbed right now," White said of Boston. "It's always a good rivalry between Boston University and Boston College. But when we're here together it's all good. We crack some jokes here and there, but ultimately we're a team so we're not hurting too many feelings until those college games begin."

McAvoy, who helped the U.S. win the bronze medal at the 2016 WJC, will play a big role as one of the team leaders. He and White were named alternate captains; Luke Kunin of the University of Wisconsin will be the captain.
"It's pretty crazy to see all the BU guys," McAvoy said. "The main thing is just how impressive the program and coaching staff has been at BU. They were responsible for recruiting most of us and we obviously bought what they were selling. I don't have one regret with the decision I made and I'm happy to be at BU. It's a testament to the recruiting to see the kind of players that they land and the kind of players they go out and get."
U.S. coach Bob Motzko said he doesn't pay much attention to the college each player skates for.
"They know where they're from, but I'm a western guy, and I look at them as hockey players," said Motzko, the coach of St. Cloud State University. "I did watch Boston University play one night a couple months ago and they have terrific hockey players. That's a credit to their staff."