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UVM's Brickley Selected to U.S. World Junior Championship Roster
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- Created on Friday, 23 December 2011 04:14
- Written by George Commo
Sophomore forward will compete at the 2012 World Junior Championship Dec. 26th-Jan. 5th in Edmonton and Calgary
Courtesy of Vermont Sports Information
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Vermont sophomore forward Connor Brickley has been named to the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team. USA Hockey today announced its squad that will compete at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2011-Jan. 5, 2012, in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. Brickley will become the sixth Catamount to represent Team USA at the World Junior Championship and the first in 20 years.
"It was a great phone call to receive this morning when we heard the news from Connor," said head coach Kevin Sneddon. "What an honor for Connor, his family, and all of us within the Catamount family. We wish Connor much success as he and his teammates compete for a gold medal."
The U.S. will look to earn its third straight medal after capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., and the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Among those on this year's U.S. roster are seven returning players from the bronze medal-winning 2011 U.S. National Junior Team.
"Every year this decision seems to get harder," said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "The number of talented players from which we get to form a team says a lot about hockey's growth in the United States as a whole."
The U.S. National Junior Team is currently in the midst of a pre-tournament camp in Alberta, Canada. Team USA has already taken part in two pre-tournament games, and will play its final contest tomorrow (Dec. 23) against Slovakia at 9 p.m. (EST) in Three Hills, Alberta. The U.S. roster includes 15 first or second round NHL draft picks, which includes Brickley.
"Having been behind the bench when we won the gold medal two years ago, I can't wait to get started again," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "This is an incredible group of players whose speed and tenacity should help us succeed in Edmonton and Calgary."
Brickley has played in both pre-tournament games for Team USA and picked up an assist on Tuesday against Russia. The sophomore has already doubled his goal total from last year with a team-high eight goals this season. He is currently tied for ninth in Hockey East in goals per game and has already scored Vermont's first goal of the game six times this season.
NHL Network will televise every Team USA game during the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship and 15 games total throughout the event. The first U.S. game to be broadcast will be its opening matchup against Denmark on Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. (EST) in Edmonton.
