Sophomore forward Hudson Fasching and incoming freshman defenseman Ryan Collins could represent the Gophers men’s hockey program on the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team.
The U.S. roster was trimmed from 42 to 27 players today as the players battle for a spot on the 2015 team at a training camp in Lake Placid, New York.
Minnesota sophomore forwards Taylor Cammarata and Vinni Lettieri, and defenseman Michael Brodzinski didn’t make the cut.
“As a staff, we have been very pleased with the effort and competitiveness of the 42 players in camp,” USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations Jim Johannson said in a USA Hockey press release. ” The three remaining games this week provide an opportunity for additional assessment of the players that are staying. We will continue to evaluate the players released today throughout the fall.”
The Star Tribune’s Jason Gonzalez has a list of Minnesotans not playing for the Gophers that were/are still involved with the camp.
Minnesotan Jack Dougherty (Cottage Grove/University of Wisconsin) was also asked to stay, while local standouts Connor Hurley (Eagan/Notre Dame), Tommy Vannelli (Minnetonka/Medicine Hat), Keegan Iverson (St. Louis Park/Portland Winterhawks), Clint Lewis (Burnsville/Cornell University) and Austin Poganski (St. Cloud/University of North Dakota) were released.
Fasching, who played on the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team, and Collins could wind up playing for the U.S. at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto, Canada. The tournament begins the day after Christmas and wraps up with the championship game on Jan. 5, 2015.
Collins, a 6-foot-5, 204-pound freshman, starred at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School. Fasching played at Apple Valley High School.
Players will continue to fight for roster spots over the course of three games this week. The U.S. plays Sweden on Wednesday, Finland on Thursday and Czech Republic on Saturday. Click here for the full camp schedule.
