June 16, 2008

Download Roster

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A total of 53 players from 17 states have been invited to the 2008 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 1-9 it was announced today by USA Hockey. Participating players are candidates for the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009, in Ottawa, Ontario.

The camp will feature practices and eight international games with a split squad of the best American players under the age of 20 facing off against Sweden and Finland.

Returnees from the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team invited to the camp include forwards Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn.), James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) and Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.); defensemen Jonathon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Ian Cole (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Cade Fairchild (Duluth, Minn.); and netminder Jeremy Smith (Brownstown, Mich.).

Also highlighting the list of invitees are 13 players from the bronze medal-winning 2008 U.S. National Under-18 Team including forwards Ryan Bourque (Boxford, Mass.), Robbie Czarnik (Washington, Mich.), Justin Florek (Marquette, Mich.), Philip McRae (Chesterfield, Mo.), Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.), Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.), Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.), Schroeder and David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.); defensemen Aaron Ness (Roseau, Minn.) and David Warsofsky (Marshfield, Mass.); and goaltender Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.).

The camp opens on Aug. 1, with the first international games set for Aug. 5. All games will be held at the 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena at the Olympic Center. All practice sessions are open to the public and tickets to the international games are available through the Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid.

NOTES: Ron Rolston (Ann Arbor, Mich.), one of two head coaches at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., will serve as head coach of the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team. Rolston will be assisted by Nate Leaman (Clifton Park, N.Y.), head coach of ECAC Hockey’s Union College; P.K. O’Handley (Waterloo, Iowa), head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks; and Jeff Blashill (Indianapolis, Ind.), head coach of the USHL’s Indiana Ice … Joining the coaching staff for the 2008 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp are Jay Varady (Marysville, Wash.), associate head coach of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League; Mike Cavanaugh (Boston, Mass.), an assistant coach for Hockey East’s Boston College; and Mark Osiecki (Madison, Wis.), assistant coach of the University of Wisconsin of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The members of the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team are expected to be unveiled in early December.

2008 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp Schedule

Aug 1-9 . Lake Placid, N.Y.

All games played in the 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena

                           Date                         Match-up                                Time (EDT)

                           Tues, Aug. 5              USA Blue vs. Finland               4:00 p.m.

                                                            USA White vs. Sweden            7:00 p.m.

                           Wed., Aug. 6            USA White vs. Finland             4:00 p.m.

                                                            USA Blue vs. Sweden              7:00 p.m.

                           Fri., Aug. 8                USA White vs. Sweden            4:00 p.m.

                                                            USA Blue vs. Finland               7:00 p.m.

                           Sat., Aug. 9               USA White vs. Finland             1:00 p.m.

                                                            USA Blue vs. Sweden              4:00 p.m.