Gophers hockey players Hudson Fasching and Brady Skjei were named Wednesday to the preliminary roster for the 2014 U.S. Junior Team, the Pioneer Press reported.
Gophers head coach Don Lucia will also coach the U.S. National Junior Team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Sweden.
“It’s a man’s tournament because we could potentially play seven games in 10 days,” Lucia said. “It does take a lot of wear and tear on a body. I think we have a good mix of guys … and now it’s just putting that final puzzle together.”
The World Junior Championship tournament will be played from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
The preliminary roster is made up of 26 players. It will be reduced to 23 players following a three-day training camp at Mariucci Arena from Dec. 15-18.
Fasching is second on the Gophers with six goals. Skjei has two goals and two assists.
The No. 1 ranked Gophers play at Michigan State this weekend.
