Thursday, December 20, 2012

2013 World Under-17 Challenge USA Roster Announced

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today announced the 22-player roster for the U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team that will compete in the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Dec. 28, 2012-Jan. 4, 2013, in Drummondville and Victoriaville, Quebec.

Team USA has claimed second place the past two tournaments (2011-12) and earned the title in 2010. The U.S. has placed in the top three for six consecutive years (2006, 2008-12). No tournament was held in 2007.

The U.S. lineup features eight defensemen, including Louis Belpedio (Skokie, Ill.), Nathan Billitier (Spencerport, N.Y.), Ryan Bliss (Bedford, N.H.), Ryan Collins (Bloomington, Minn.), Brandon Fortunato (North Hills, N.Y.), Jack Glover (Golden Valley, Minn.), Johnathan MacLeod (Dracut, Mass.) and Joshua Wesley (Raleigh, N.C).

Twelve forwards will skate for Team USA in the tournament, including Anders Bjork (Mequon, Wis.), Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.), Jared Fiegl (Parker, Colo.), Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, N.Y.), Keegan Iverson (St. Louis Park, Minn.), Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.), Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo.), Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y.), Austin Poganski (St. Cloud, Minn.), Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Dominic Turgeon (Cherry Hills, Colo.) and Chris Wilkie (Omaha, Neb.).

Backstopping the U.S. will be goaltenders Chris Birdsall (Glen Rock, N.J.) and Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.).

All games of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be be streamed live and available on-demand at FASTHockey.com.

The U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team will play one pre-tournament game against Canada's Team Pacific Dec. 28, in Drummondville, Quebec, before opening tournament play on Dec. 29 against Canada's Team Ontario at the Colisee Desjardins.
News and Notes

    Forwards Keegan Iverson and Dominic Turgeon play for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, while Austin Poganski skates for Cathedral High School in St. Paul, Minn. Netminder Chris Birdsall suits up for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League, while the other 18 players on the roster come from the U.S. National Under-17 Team that is part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Mich.

    The 2013 World Under-17 Challenge includes two pools of five teams. Pool A consists of teams from Finland, Canada's Team Pacific, Russia, Sweden and Canada's Team West. Pool B consists of teams from Canada's Team Atlantic, Canada's Team Ontario, Canada's Team Quebec, Slovakia and the United States.

U.S. National Under-17 Team Roster

34     Chris Birdsall     G     5-10     161
31     Edwin Minney     G     6-4     197
               
45     Louis Belpedio     D     5-10     181
41     Nathan Billitier     D     5-10     176
44     Ryan Bliss     D     6-1     197
43     Ryan Collins     D     6-4     203
36     Brandon Fortunato     D     5-9     150
49     Jack Glover     D     6-3     185
54     Johnathan MacLeod     D     6-1     185
53     Joshua Wesley     D     6-2     203
               
38     Anders Bjork     F     5-11     177
46     Jack Eichel     F     6-1     190
40     Jared Fiegl     F     6-1     208
47     Ryan Hitchcock     F     5-9     168
58     Keegan Iverson     F     6-0     215
39     Dylan Larkin     F     6-0     184
52     Ryan MacInnis     F     6-3     170
48     Sonny Milano     F     5-10     176
57     Austin Poganski     F     6-1     195
37     Alex Tuch     F     6-3     225
56     Dominic Turgeon     F     6-1     185
51     Chris Wilkie     F     5-10     183

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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