Matt Grzelcyk and local talent remain on Team USA WJC team

Team USA Hockey completed a round of cuts to its World Juniors team yesterday. The updated roster now has thirty one players on it, (down from forty four) and a lot of local talent and one Bruins prospect are still in the mix to make the national team.  This smaller squad will get better evaluation and assistance from the staff as they get ready for the next series of international hockey competition.

“The reality is for the camp, what we need to do is as quality an evaluation as we can, and with three games left, it’s hard to have forty four players in camp and still get guys into the flow and the mix,” said Jim Johannson, the general manager of the 2014 United States national junior team. “We cut down to the thirty one players remaining [yesterday] to play the next three games and give us more of an opportunity to put players in situations we want to see them in.”

Matthew Grzelcyk was selected by the Bruins in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected in the third round, and was the eighty fifth selection overall. He’s from Charlestown, and his father has worked in the Garden for decades. It’s always great to see the local kid made good, and staying with the WJC team will only give him greater experience as he continues to play for Boston University and gets ready for when he can wear the ‘spoked B’ on a full time basis.

Boston University and Hockey East are well represented in the remaining players. It’s going to be another great period of play for the future of USA hockey. The remaining roster is as follows”

GOALIES:
-Thatcher Demko, Boston College, HE (2014 draft) -Jon Gillies, Providence, HE, (CGY) -Anthony Stolarz, London, OHL (PHI)
DEFENSEMEN:
-Michael Brodzinski, Minnesota, BIG 10 (SJS) -Will Butcher, Denver, NCHC (COL) -Connor Carrick, Plymouth, OHL (WSH) -Connor Clifton, Quinnipiac, ECAC (PHX) -Matthew Grzelcyk, Boston University, HE (BOS) -Ian McCoshen, Boston College, HE (FLA) -Brett Pesce, New Hampshire, HE (CAR) -Steven Santini, Boston College, HE (NJD) -Patrick Sieloff, Windsor, OHL (CGY) -Brady Skjei, Minnesota, BIG 10 (NYR)
FORWARDS:
-Riley Barber, Miami, NCHC (WSH) -Taylor Cammarata, Minnesota, BIG 10 (NYI) -J.T. Compher, Michigan, BIG 10 (BUF) -Andrew Copp, Michigan, BIG 10 (WPG) -Thomas Di Pauli, Notre Dame, HE (WSH) -Adam Erne, Quebec, QMJHL (TBL) -Hudson Fasching, Minnesota, BIG 10 (LAK) -Jake Guentzel, Nebraska-Omaha, NCHC (PIT) -Nicolas Kerdiles, Wisconsin, BIG 10 (ANA) -Stefan Matteau, Rimouski, QMJHL (NJD) -Michael McCarron, London, OHL (MTL) -Tyler Motte, Michigan, BIG 10 (CHI) -Boo Nieves, Michigan, BIG 10 (NYR) -Daniel O’Regan, Boston University, HE (SJS) -Henrik Samuelsson, Edmonton, WHL (PHX) -Quentin Shore, Denver, NCHC (OTT) -Zach Stepan, Minnesota State, WCHA (NSH) -Dominic Toninato, Minnesota-Duluth, NCHC (TOR)