WAKEFIELD, MASS. - Nine players currently competing in Hockey East have been selected to the rosters of the respective countries ahead of the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships, slated to begin December 26 in Buffalo, New York. Additionally, two coaches from Hockey East schools will be behind the bench during the tournament.
All three goaltenders representing Team USA are Hockey East netminders as Boston College's Joseph Woll (St. Louis, Mo.), Boston University's Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) and Maine's Jeremy Swayman (Anchorage, Alaska) will don the red, white, and blue. Also named to the final U.S. roster were a pair of Boston University forwards in second-year Patrick Harper (New Canaan, Conn.) and rookie Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.). Harper, Oettinger and Woll were also a part of the gold medal-winning 2017 U.S. team. The American contingent is set to be coached by the same staff that led last year's first-place team, including Boston College associate head coach Greg Brown and Providence assistant coach Kris Mayotte.
Canada's World Junior team features a pair of Hockey East defenseman and will be led in part by Boston University sophomore blueliner Dante Fabbro (New Westminster, B.C.) who was named an alternate captain for the Canadians. Massachusetts' rookie defenseman Cale Makar (Calgary, Alta.) will also skate alongside Fabbro on Canada's defensive corps. Fabbro helped Canada to the silver medal in last year's tournament.
Finland's roster also carries a pair of Hockey East skaters. Boston College freshman forward Aapeli Rasanen (Tampere, Finland) and Boston University rookie defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo (Espoo, Finland) will make their first appearance on the World Junior stage for the Finns.
The 2018 World Junior Championship will begin on December 26 in Buffalo, New York. Each of Team USA's games in the tournament can be seen live on NHL Network, including the December 29 tilt with Canada, set to be the first ever World Junior game played outside at New Era Field.