December 4, 2007
Four Gophers on World Junior Team
CHN Staff Report
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Seventeen college players, four major junior players, and one player with the U.S. Under-18 team were selected for the 2007-08 U.S. Junior National team that will compete at the upcoming World Junior championships.
Minnesota leads the way with four selections — forwards Mike Carmen (who has been sitting out with academic issues), Ryan Flynn and Kyle Okposo, and defenseman Cade Fairchild.
The issue for Team USA this season may be in goal, where Ohio State's Joe Palmer was selected. Palmer has struggled for the better part of two seasons. The younger Jeremy Smith, who plays for Plymouth in the OHL, was also selected.
Veteran defensemen include Boston University's Brian Strait, Michigan's Chris Summers and Wisconsin's Jamie McBain.
Michigan also placed freshmen Max Pacioretty and Matt Rust on the squad. Denver also had two forwards, with Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger. Colorado College's Billy Sweatt is back for another year.
New Hampshire freshman James vanRiemsdyk, the second overall pick in last summer's NHL Draft, was selected for a second straight year.
The IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic, Dec. 26, 2007 - Jan. 5, 2008.
The U.S. is coming off a bronze-medal performance at last year's championship in Sweden.
The Complete List
Goaltenders (2): Joe Palmer (Ohio St.); Jeremy Smith (Plymouth – OHL).
Defensemen (8): Jonathon Blum (Vancouver - WHL); Ian Cole (Notre Dame); Cade Fairchild (Minnesota); Jamie McBain (Wisconsin); Kevin Montgomery (London - OHL); Bobby Sanguinetti (Owen Sound – OHL); Brian Strait (BU); Chris Summers (Michigan).
Forwards (12): Mike Carman (Minnesota); Ryan Flynn (Minnesota); Blake Geoffrion (Wisconsin); Kyle Okposo (Minnesota), Max Pacioretty (Michigan); Rhett Rakhshani (Denver), Tyler Ruegsegger (Denver); Matt Rust (Michigan); Jordan Schroeder (U.S. Under-18 Team); Billy Sweatt (Colorado College), James vanRiemsdyk (UNH), Colin Wilson (BU).
Head Coach: John Hynes (U.S. Under-18 Team) Assistant Coaches: Keith Allain (Yale) and Patrick Foley (Harvard).
Team USA Schedule
All times EST, at Liberec, Czech Republic, unless otherwise noted
Wed. Dec. 26 — vs. Kazakhstan, 10 a.m.
Fri. Dec. 28 — vs. Switzerland, Noon
Sat. Dec. 29 — vs. Russia, 2 p.m.
Mon. Dec. 31 — vs. Finland, Noon
Wed. Jan. 2 — Quarterfinals, TBD
Fri. Jan. 4 — Semifinals, TBD
Sat. Jan. 5 — Gold and Bronze Medal Games, TBD
The way the Gophers had played this year, I am surprised any of them have made it on the team. I am sure there are some GM's in the NHL that are kicking themselves for selecting any of the current Gophers in the 1st or 2nd round of the draft the past couple years.
Dec 10 2007, 12:11 am by jon seattle wa
This team doesn't appear to have a lot of "finishers". I'll be surprised if they do really well.
Dec 12 2007, 1:52 am by Mike D --Duluth, MN
It seems the past few years, they have the talent but no heart to win games. This year, it is the same thing with the exception, they don't have a scoreer and Frazee lets in bad goals game after game. Too bad, I have been a Gopher hockey fan my whole life.
Dec 12 2007, 3:19 am by jon seattle wa
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