3 issues arise with the U.S. National Junior Team Preliminary Roster

Logan Hutsko, the Boston College sophomore right wing, has three goals and eight assists. (BC Athletics)

On Wednesday, USA Hockey announced its preliminary roster for the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver, and Victoria, British Columbia from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

Five New England natives were named to the preliminary roster that will be trimmed down at a pre-tournament camp in Everett, Washington.

Providence College freshman defenseman Michael Callahan (Franklin, Mass.), Yale sophomore defenseman Phil Kemp (Greenwich, Conn.), U.S. NTDP U-18 goaltender Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.), Providence College freshman center Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.), and Boston College freshman right wing Oliver Wahlstrom (Falmouth, Maine) were the five New England natives to make the preliminary roster.

As always, there were several decisions that USA Hockey brass made that could be debated for days. USA Hockey, led by first year General Manager John Vanbiesbrouck, made some decisions that were well thought out while a few others were baffling.