Latvia, Swiss WJC Camp Rosters Announced

Fifty-five players who will be eligible for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft were named to the Latvian and Swiss selection camp rosters for the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships. Pre-tournament camps will begin soon, with tournament action beginning on December 26 in Ufa, Russia.

Also represented on the teams are two prospects who won’t be eligible for the draft until 2014, as well as four players already drafted to NHL teams.

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Theodor Blueger and Buffalo Sabres prospect Zemgus Girgensons were both on the list for the Latvian team, while Minnesota Wild prospect Christoph Bertschy and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Tanner Richard are on the Swiss camp list.

Girgensons is also the lone AHL player on either of the rosters, though it’s uncertain at this point whether or not he’ll leave the Rochester Americans to play in the tournament.

One college player, Minnesota State forward Theodor Blueger, also made the Latvian camp roster.

Ten players representing the CHL organizations are on either the Latvian or Swiss camp selection rosters, including four on the Latvian and six for Switzerland.

Representing the WHL are defensemen Rinalds Rosinskis and Mirco Müller, as well as forwards Edgars Kulda, Roberts Lipsbergs and Alessio Bertaggia.

Guelph Storm forward Tanner Richard is the lone OHL representative, as he is part of Team Switzerland.

Regarding the QMJHL, Blainville-Boisbriand has one player on each team, as forward Nikita Jevpalovs and defenseman Christian Marti have both been selected to try out for their country’s teams. Sven Andrighetto and Lukas Balmelli are the other QMJHL representatives.

LATVIA 2013 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

• Goaltenders: Rihards Cimermanis — Elvis Merzlikins — Vadims Miscuks — Ivars Punnenovs

• Defense: Edmunds Augstkalns — Matiss Gelazis — Janis Jaks — Kriss Lipsbergs — Roberts Mamcics — Kristaps Nimanis — Rinalds Rosinskis — Edgars Siksna — Patriks Skuratovs — Pauls Zvirbulis

• Forwards: Toms Andersons — Rustams Begovs — Theodor Blueger — Richards Bukarts — Artjoms Dasutins — Zemgus Girgensons — Georgs Golovkovs — Nikolais Jelisejvs — Nikita Jevpalovs — Edgars Kulda — Edgars Kurmis — Arturs Kuzmenkovs — Martins Lavrovs — Roberts Lipsbergs — Karlis Ozolins — Lauris Rancevs — Deivids Sarkanis — Andris Siksnis

SWITZERLAND 2013 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

• Goaltenders: Luca Boltshauser — Kevin Huber — Robert Kuonen — Melvin Nyffeler

• Defense: Eliot Antonietti — Phil Baltisberger — Isacco Dotti — Lukas Frick — Samuel Guerra — Cedric Hachler — Dean Kukan — Valentin Luthi — Christian Marti — Mirco Müller

• Forwards: Reto Amstutz — Sven Andrighetto — Lukas Balmelli — Alessio Bertaggia — Christoph Bertschy — Daniele Grassi — Robin Leone — Lino Martschini — Jan Neuenschwander — Vincent Praplan — Tanner Richard — Lukas Sieber — Dario Simion — Simon Sterchi — Sandro Zangger