Hudson Fasching is one of three Minnesotans remaining on Team USA’s National Junior Evaluation Camp roster. (MHM Photo / Jeff Wegge)
Five with Minnesota ties remain for final games of National Junior Evaluation Camp
USA Hockey today trimmed its 2014 National Junior Evaluation camp roster from 42 to 27 in advance of its final games against the Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden later this week. The University of Minnesota’s Hudson Fasching (Burnsville) is one of three Minnesotans remaining in camp vying for roster spots on the U.S. National Junior Team which will compete in the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2014 – Jan. 5, 2015, in Montreal and Toronto, Canada.
Fasching, the lone Minnesota-bred forward and one of five eligible members still in camp from Don Lucia’s 2014 U.S. National Junior Team which finished fifth in Malmo, Sweden, is joined by defensemen Ryan Collins (Bloomington, University of Minnesota commit) and Jack Dougherty (Cottage Grove, University of Wisconsin commit). 2014 Minnesota Wild draft picks Alex Tuch (first round, 18th overall) and Louis Belpedio (third round, 80th overall) also remain in camp.
Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations and the general manager of the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team, said those dropped from the Evaluation Camp roster today remain in consideration to be invited to December’s training camp from which the final team will be selected.
“As a staff, we have been very pleased with the effort and competitiveness of the 42 players in camp,” Johannson said in a statement released by the team. “The three remaining games this week provide an opportunity for additional assessment of the players that are staying. We will continue to evaluate the players released today throughout the fall.”
Forwards let go by Team USA coach, and Burnsville native, Mark Osiecki include Minnesotans Keegan Iverson (St. Louis Park, Portland Winterhawks), Taylor Cammarata (Plymouth, University of Minnesota), Vinni Lettieri (Excelsior, University of Minnesota), Austin Poganski (St. Cloud, University of North Dakota) and Connor Hurley (Eagan, University of Notre Dame).
Defenseman with in-state ties cut buy Team USA were Mike Brodzinski (Ham Lake, University of Minnesota), Tommy Vanelli (Minnetonka, Medicine Hat Tigers) and Clint Lewis (Burnsville, Cornell University). Hudson, Wis. defenseman Ian McCoshen (Shattuck-St. Mary’s), who also played for Lucia on last year’s team, has been sent home for precautionary reasons according to USA Hockey’s release.
The trimmed Team USA roster will play Sweden on Wednesday (Aug. 6), Finland on Thursday (Aug. 7) and Czech Republic on Saturday (Aug. 9). All games are being played at the Olympic Center’s USA Rink.
Minnesota Hockey Magazine Executive Editor Brian Halverson is a member of the Minnesota Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is a contributor to The Sports Xchange's NHL coverage in St. Paul. An experienced sports feature writer and reporter, Brian's work has been published in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, The Marquette Mining Journal, The St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Hartford Courant. Prior to joining the Minnesota Hockey Magazine team, Brian served as a WCHA co-columnist for U.S. College Hockey Online.
