Eight New Englanders have been named to the preliminary roster for the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, this December and January.
In addition, seven other players with ties to the region were selected to participate in the world junior training camp that will help USA Hockey determine the 25 players to take to the marquee event in junior hockey.
Michigan center Matt Beniers (Hingham, Mass.), Providence left wing Brett Berard (East Greenwich, R.I.), Boston College left wing Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.), Northeastern right wing Sam Colangelo (Stoneham, Mass.), Providence left wing Patrick Moynihan (Millis, Mass.), Harvard defenseman Henry Thrun (Southboro, Mass.), Boston University goaltender Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) and Boston College goaltender Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) will vie to represent New England at this year’s World Junior Championship.
Joining those eight will be Boston College defenseman Drew Helleson, Boston University forward Robert Mastrosimone, defenseman Alex Vlasic and former Terrier star Trevor Zegras, Harvard center John Farinacci, and Providence defenseman Cam McDonald. Finally, John Beecher, a sophomore center at the University of Michigan, is the lone Boston Bruins prospect on USA Hockey’s radar. The Elmira, N.Y., native and former Salisbury star was selected by the organization in the first round of the 2019 NHL draft.
Providence head coach Nate Leaman will be the bench boss for the U.S. team. Joining Leaman’s coaching staff is Harvard head coach Ted Donato and former Providence assistants Kris Mayotte and Steve Miller. Providence director of hockey operations Theresa Feaster will serve as the team’s video assistant.
Notable omissions
There were two New Englanders who could have made this preliminary roster but didn’t. Northeastern sophomore defenseman Jayden Struble and Chicago Steel left wing Sean Farrell, both Montreal Canadiens picks, were left off. Struble might be surprising to some, but it’s not much of a secret that Leaman never has been a fan of the Cumberland, R.I., native.
Projected roster
Based on who is coming to camp, and assuming all the NHL rookies will be able to play, here is my projected roster for the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team:
Forwards (14)
John Beecher
Matt Beniers
Brett Berard
Matthew Boldy
Thomas Bordeleau
Bobby Brink
Brendan Brisson
Cole Caufield
Sam Colangelo
John Farinacci
Patrick Moynihan
Nick Robertson
Alex Turcotte
Trevor Zegras
Defensemen (8)
Brock Faber
Drew Helleson
Ryan Johnson
Jackson Lacombe
Cam McDonald
Jake Sanderson
Alex Vlasic
Cam York
Goaltenders (3)
Spencer Knight
Dustin Wolf
Drew Commesso
On paper, it would seem like Colangelo and OHL star Arthur Kaliyev would fit similar roles as goal-scoring wingers. I think Colangelo gets the nod, but it wouldn’t surprise if Kaliyev was in there instead. Both players are top-six wingers or won’t be in the lineup.
On defense, I can see Thrun making the squad, but I find it hard to believe that Leaman would bring McDonald if he’s not going to keep him. I’m not sure any other invited blueliner could be switched out in favor of Thrun.
The goaltending position is the easiest to predict. Knight is the undisputed starter, while Wolf will back him up. Commesso is the third goaltender to get experience for 2022 when he’ll be the projected starter.
