October 19, 2009

For Team USA's full roster, click here.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced the 22-man roster for its 2009 U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the World Junior A Challenge Nov. 1-8 in Summerside, P.E.I.

The U.S. roster includes 21 players currently competing in the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league.

Colten St. Clair returns to Team USA after last playing on the 2009 Under-18 Select Team.

Highlighting the U.S. squad are five players who were members of the 2009 U.S. Under-18 Select Team that competed at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia, including forwards Connor Brickley (Everett, Mass./Des Moines Buccaneers), Mike Parks (O'Fallon, Mo./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) and Colten St. Clair (Gilbert, Ariz./Fargo Force); and defensemen Kevin Gravel (Kingsford, Mich./Sioux City Musketeers) and Kevin Lind (Homer Glen, Ill./Chicago Steel).

In addition, three Team USA members were selected in the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, including Mac Bennett (Warrick, R.I./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), who was chosen in the third round (79th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens; Nick Jensen (Rogers, Minn./Green Bay Gamblers), who was the Detroit Red Wings' fifth-round (150th overall) choice; and Nic Dowd (Huntsville, Ala./Indiana Ice), who was the seventh-round (198th overall) selection of the Los Angeles Kings.

Sharing the goaltending duties for Team USA will be Eric Mihalik (Avon Lake, Ohio/Des Moines Buccaneers) and Will Yanakeff (Jerome, Mich./Sioux City Musketeers).

The U.S. Junior Select Team takes on Canada East in its first game Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. EST.

For Team USA's full roster, click here.

NOTES: The U.S. roster includes 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. Fourteen states and nine USHL teams are represented ... The 2009 World Junior A Challenge will feature Belarus, Canada East, Canada West, Russia, Sweden and the United States ... Mark Carlson, head coach of USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, is the head coach of the 2009 U.S. Junior Select Team, with Jeff Blashill, head coach of the USHL's Indiana Ice, and Andy Jones, assistant coach of the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede, serving as assistant coaches ... The World Junior A Challenge is in its fourth year and the U.S. will be competing in the tournament for the third consecutive year. The U.S. won the championship in 2008 and garnered a third-place finish in 2007.

Team USA 2009 World Junior A Challenge Schedule
November 1-8 • Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Date	Opponent	Time (Local/EST)
Sun., Nov. 1	Canada East	7 p.m./6 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 3	Belarus	7 p.m./6 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 5	Quarterfinals	TBD
Fri., Nov. 6	Semifinals	TBD
Sat., Nov. 7	Fifth-place game	7 p.m./6 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 8	Third-place game	12 p.m./11 a.m.
	Championship	5 p.m./4 p.m.