COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey has invited 44 players – including five goaltenders, 16 defensemen and 23 forwards – to participate in its 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase, set for July 27-Aug. 4 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.
The World Junior Summer Showcase, which will also include players from Finland and Sweden, serves as an evaluation for athletes seeking to make their respective national teams for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be held Dec. 26, 2023, through Jan. 5, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
In addition to daily practices, which are open to the public and free of charge, the week-long World Junior Summer Showcase will include eight international games. Tickets to the games are available by clicking here or visiting the USA Hockey Arena box office. For a complete WJSS schedule, click here.
Of the 44 players expected to attend, 10 were part of the bronze medal-winning 2023 U.S. National Junior Team, including goaltenders Trey Augustine (South Lyon, Mich.) and Andrew Oke (Shelby Township, Mich.); defensemen Seamus Casey (Fort Myers, Fla.), Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi, Minn.) and Lane Hutson(Chicago, Ill.); and forwards Gavin Brindley (Estero, Fla.), Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Rutger McGroarty (Lincoln, Neb.), Jimmy Snuggerud (Chaska, Minn.) and Charlie Stramel (Rosemount, Minn.). In addition, Oke and Stramel were part of the 2022 U.S. National Junior Team, and Hutson and Gauthier skated for the 2023 U.S. Men’s National Team.
For the full U.S. roster, click here.
NOTES: Players representing 15 different states have been invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase, including Minnesota (10), Michigan (7), Massachusetts (5), Florida (3), Illinois (3), New York (3), Arizona (2), California (2), Pennsylvania (1), New Jersey (2), Wisconsin (2), Connecticut (1), Kansas (1), Ohio (1), Nebraska (1) … John Vanbiesbrouck (Detroit, Mich./USA Hockey) is the general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team for the sixth straight year, while David Carle (Anchorage, Alaska/University of Denver) is serving for the first time as head coach … The U.S. has medaled in six of the last eight IIHF World Junior Championships, its best medal stretch ever.
