COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey will stage the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth from July 29 – Aug. 5.
The event features players from four nations – the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden – auditioning for a spot to represent their country in the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, which will take place Dec. 26, 2017 – Jan. 5, 2018, in Buffalo, New York.
USA Hockey also unveiled today the 42 players it has invited to take part in the World Junior Summer Showcase, a group that includes seven returnees from last year’s gold medal-winning U.S. National Junior Team and 26 players who have won medals at IIHF events.
“This event is the first step in our process towards identifying a team for the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey and general manager of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team. “We’re excited to be returning to USA Hockey Arena and hosting Canada, Finland and Sweden for a great week of hockey that will give fans a taste of what is to come this December.”
The United States, which enters the 2018 tournament having medaled in back-to-back IIHF World Junior Championships for the second time ever (2010 – gold, 2011 – bronze), aims to claim a third-straight medal in tournament play for the first time in USA Hockey history.
SUPPORT STAFF DETAILS
In addition, USA Hockey announced today its support staff for the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team, including video coach Matt Chapman (St. Cloud State University/Bloomington, Ind.), high performance coach Sean Braziel (USA Hockey/Burke, Va.), equipment managers Brock Bradley (USA Hockey National Team Development Program/Plymouth, Mich.) and Derek Repucci (Duke University/Rochester, N.H.); athletic trainers Josh Penn (University of Massachusetts/Hadley, Mass.) and Stan Wong (USA Hockey/Boca Raton, Fla.); and communications contact Jon Gomez (USA Hockey/Colorado Springs, Colo.).
MUSE, PETERSEN TO SERVE AS GUEST CAMP COACHES
Dan Muse (Geneva, Ill.) and Toby Petersen (Minneapolis, Minn.) will serve as guest coaches at the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase. Currently head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Chicago Steel, Muse served as a video coach for the U.S. National Junior Team twice (2013, 2014), helping Team USA claim a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia. Petersen enjoyed a 13-year professional hockey career that included stints with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars as well as their AHL affiliates Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Edmonton Roadrunners, Iowa Stars and Texas Stars. A 2014 Calder Cup champion with the Texas Stars, he also represented the United States on three occasions and helped the 1997 U.S. National Junior Team claim the only World Junior Championship silver medal in USA Hockey history.
The week-long event will include 12 international competitions between Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States. Tickets for all 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase games will go on sale Monday, June 26, at USAHockeyArena.com/WJSS.
2017 World Junior Summer Showcase Game Schedule
Date Game Time (EDT)
Saturday, July 29 USA White vs. Finland 1:00 p.m.
USA Blue vs. Sweden 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 30 USA Blue vs. Finland 1:00 p.m.
USA White vs. Sweden 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 1 Canada Red vs. USA White 4:08 p.m.
Canada White vs. USA Blue 7:08 p.m.
Wednesday, August 2 Canada vs. Finland 1:08 p.m.
USA vs. Sweden 4:08 p.m.
Friday, August 4 Sweden vs. Canada 1:08 p.m.
Finland vs. USA 4:08 p.m.
Saturday, August 5 Sweden vs. Finland 4:08 p.m.
USA vs. Canada 7:08 p.m
NOTES: For more information on the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase, visit teamusa.usahockey.com/worldjuniors … Join the conversation by using the official hashtag #WJSS … Of the 42 players invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase, 24 are eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft, which begins Friday (June 23). In addition, 15 players were drafted last year, while three others are eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft … Sixteen players invited competed in the United States Hockey League during the 2016-17 season, including 11 from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program … A total of 14 players spent time in the college hockey ranks last season while another 18 players are expected to make their collegiate debuts this season … Fifteen of the 42 players participated in last year’s camp … The 42 players invited represent 13 states, including Minnesota (12), Michigan (9), Missouri (5), Connecticut (4), Massachusetts (2), Florida (2), Illinois (2), California (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (1), and Washington (1) … Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.) is the head coach of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team and is joined by assistant coaches Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass.), Grant Potulny (Minneapolis, Minn.), Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Steve Miller (Littleton, Colo.), all of whom led Team USA to a gold medal in last year’s IIHF World Junior Championship … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams.
