The 2021 World Juniors Championship is set to take place next month in Edmonton, Alberta and Team USA is starting to take shape. USA Hockey announced the preliminary roster for the tournament, comprised of 29 players, who will participate in a selection camp in Plymouth, Mich. starting on Dec. 6. The final roster will be announced on Dec. 13.
Among the 17 forwards is San Jose Sharks 2020 draft pick Thomas Bordeleau. A native of Houston, Texas, the 18-year-old was selected in the second round (38th overall) out of the US National Team Development Program this past October. He’s since gone on to join the University of Michigan Wolverines hockey program, where he has put up two goals and five assists in six games so far. He is currently second on the team in points, behind fellow freshman Kent Johnson.
“We have a talented group and we’ll have some tough decisions to make,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team and assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey in a release. “We continue to benefit from a deep player pool, and that’s credit to all of the organizations and volunteers developing the next wave of American talent.”
Fourteen different states are represented on the preliminary roster and 26 of the 29 players have college hockey experience. They will need to make four cuts before the tournament, which will take place “bubble style” in Edmonton from Dec. 25, 2020 – Jan. 5, 2021.
Last year, Team USA finished sixth, following a four-year streak of top-three performances. They last won Gold at World Juniors in 2017, having also won it in 2004, 2010 and 2013.
Here’s the full selection camp roster:
Introducing #TeamUSA’s preliminary roster for the 2021 World Junior Championship. 🇺🇸
Details → https://t.co/jl5TjuVqJH #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ZygW1II1go
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) November 30, 2020
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