2012 WJC Roster Picks
By Fetch
Disclaimer: these picks are who I would take to the WJC, not who I think will make the final roster
Goalies: Jack Campbell, John Gibson
Pretty self explanatory. They were the only two in camp, so they’ll both go. Campbell will probably get the bulk of the time in net and after being the first goalie to win back to back medals for the US he’ll try to make it three in a row.
Defense: Adam Clendening, Derek Forbort, Kevin Gravel, Stephen Johns, Jon Merrill, Jarred Tinordi, Jacob Trouba
I am guessing Clendening, Forbort, Merrill and Tinordi’s spots are assured, and two of Trouba, Johns and Plymouth’s Austin Levi will get the final spot. I left off Levi because I think with Clendening, Merrill and Trouba there are three pretty good offensive guys and, though Trouba is as well, I’ve always liked his defensive game more. Plus he looks to be a lock for next year’s team so it will be nice to get him some seasoning this year.
Forwards: Kenny Agostino, Josh Archibald, Connor Brickley, Nick Bjugstad, Charlie Coyle, Emerson Etem, Brian Ferlin, JT Miller, Kyle Rau, Brandon Saad, TJ Tynan, Austin Watson, Jason Zucker
The last couple of guys on my list were Archibald, who plays for Blais at Nebraska-Omaha, and Ferlin, who has had a nice start to his Freshman year at Cornell. With Bjugstad and Rau together, and how well Tynan and Etem have played this year, the US looks to have a really good and really deep group of forwards, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Blais take a couple more energy guys and/or table setter types vs. a group of pure scorers.
The full roster will be announced by USA Hockey tomorrow, and you can bet there will be wall to wall coverage here.