COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 22-man roster for the U.S. Men’s National University Team that will compete in the 2017 Winter World University Games from Jan. 28-Feb. 8 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, was announced today by USA Hockey.
“This is a very experienced group,” said Sean Hogan, head coach of the 2017 U.S. Men’s National University Team. “We’re excited to bring this team to Kazakhstan to represent our country this month at the Winter World University Games.”
The complete roster, which includes two goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards, is comprised of players that compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
The group is highlighted by four returnees from the 2015 U.S. Men’s National University Team, including forward Joey Breslin (Centerville, Ohio/Ohio University), a two-time All-American; goaltender Joe Olen (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./University of Illinois), a 2015-16 second-team All-American; forward Sean Murphy (Cary, N.Y./Arizona State University), a 2014-15 third-team All-American; and defenseman Nicholas Zern (Auburn, Ind./Minot State University).
Among the newcomers is forward J.T. Hall (Lake Grove, N.Y./Stony Brook University), the reigning ACHA Player of the Year who finished third in the country in points (68) in 2015-16. Other previous ACHA All-Americans making their Team USA debuts include defensemen Jake Uglem (Moorhead, Minn./Iowa State University) and Ryan Urso (Livonia, Mich./University of Michigan Dearborn) and forwards Gavin Burbach (Newberry, Mich./Robert Morris University (Ill.)), Tyler Groat (Wyandotte, Mich./University of Michigan Dearborn), James McGing (Chicago, Ill./University of Illinois), Jordan Simmonds (Howell, Mich./Davenport University) and Tony Uglem (Moorhead, Minn./Iowa State University).
Jake and Tony Uglem are the second pair of brothers to play on the U.S. National University Team. Olen played alongside his brother, John Olen, in the 2015 Winter World University Games.
Team USA opens the tournament against Canada on Monday, Jan. 30, at 2:30 a.m. ET.
NOTES: Ten different states are represented on the roster, led by Illinois with four representatives and Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio each with three … The 22 players represent 12 different schools. Ohio University has four representatives on the team, while Arizona State University and University of Illinois each have three … Ashley Bevan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey’s senior director of adult hockey, is serving as team leader of the 2017 U.S. Men’s National University Team … Sean Hogan (White Lake, Mich.) is serving as head coach of the 2017 U.S. Men’s National University Team alongside assistant coaches Nick Fabbrini (Champaign, Ill.) and Rick Zombo (Wildwood, Mo.) … The United States is fielding a men’s hockey team at the Winter World University Games for the ninth straight time … At the 2017 Winter World University Games, Team USA is competing in Group B alongside Canada, Great Britain and Slovakia. All games will be played at Halyk Arena … For complete coverage of the U.S. at the 2017 Winter World University Games, click here.
