TONIGHT'S GAME
The United States faces the Czech Republic tonight in its second and final pre-tournament game before the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at the Rogers K-Rock Centre (capacity: 5,700) here in Kingston, Ontario. The game will be updated live on Twitter @USAHockeyScores.

MORNING SKATE
The U.S. National Junior Team skated this morning in Oshawa, Ontario, ahead of tonight's final pre-tournament game. After the skate, players and staff returned to the hotel and boarded the bus for Kingston, Ontario.

DYK: YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
More than half of the players on the 2017 U.S. National Junior Team have participated in USA Hockey’s National Championships, including Tanner
Laczynski 
(Shorewood, Ill./Ohio State University) who helped the Chicago Mission claim the 2013 Youth National Championship 16 and Under Tournament. In addition, Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn./University of Minnesota), Jordan Greenway  (Canton, N.Y./Boston University) and Clayton Keller (St. Louis, Mo./Boston University) led the Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U squad to a first-place finish at the 2014 USA Hockey Youth National Championship while Keller, Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo./University of Wisconsin) and Joseph Woll (St. Louis, Mo./Boston College) helped the St. Louis AAA Blues to a second place finish in 2012 and a pair of third-place finishes in 2011 and 2013. Below is a full list of Team USA’s players who were youth hockey teammates growing up:

Organization Player(s) Year(s)
Connecticut Oilers Patrick Harper, Chad Krys 16U
Long Island Gulls Jeremy Bracco, Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy 10U
Long Island Gulls Jeremy Bracco, Adam Fox 12U
Long Island Gulls Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy 14U
Shattuck St. Mary's Ryan Lindgren, Jordan Greenway, Clayton Keller 16U
St. Louis AAA Blues Clayton Keller, Luke Kunin, Joseph Woll 10U, 12U, 14U
St. Louis AAA Blues Luke Kunin, Joseph Woll 16U

 

JOHANNSON ON STELLICK & SIMMER IN THE MORNING
This morning, Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2017 U.S. National Junior Team and assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, was a guest on Sirius XM/NHL Network Radio's "Stellick and Simmer in the Morning" to discuss yesterday's roster moves, the final yet-to-be-determined roster, and the outlook of Team USA for this year's World Junior Championship. An audio file for the appearance will be available shortly.

Jim Johannson on Stellick & Simmer in the Morning

Jim Johannson - 12.23.16