Three Wolverines Named to USA's Final World Juniors Roster
12/23/2017 2:43:00 PM | Ice Hockey
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The 2018 U.S. National Junior Team final roster was announced Saturday (Dec. 23) by USA Hockey, and three members of the University of Michigan ice hockey team have been selected: Quinn Hughes, Will Lockwood and Josh Norris. The team will participate in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2017-Jan. 5, 2018, in Buffalo, New York.
The trio will become the 45th, 46th and 47th Wolverines -- 39 for the United States, seven for Canada and one for Sweden -- to have played in the World Junior Championship.
The IIHF World Junior Championship, one of the most highly anticipated hockey events annually, includes the best men's players under the age of 20 from 10 nations around the world. The 2018 event will be conducted at KeyBank Center and Harbor Center in downtown Buffalo. The outdoor game between the United States and Canada will be staged Dec. 29 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York, home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
Team USA's IIHF World Juniors Schedule:
Tuesday, Dec. 26 - vs. Denmark (Group A), 8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 28 - vs. Slovakia (Group A), 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 29 - vs. Canada (Group A), 3 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 31 - vs. Finland (Group A), 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 2 - Quarterfinals
Thursday, Jan. 4 - Semifinals
Friday, Jan. 5 - Medal Round
• Full IIHF World Juniors Schedule and Results
Hughes, a freshman defenseman, has nine points (one goal, eight assists) through 14 games and is currently the youngest player in NCAA Division I hockey. He won a gold medal for Team USA last winter in the 2017 Under-18 World Championship in Slovakia.
Lockwood, a sophomore forward, has 11 points (4G, 7A) through 14 games this season. He won the Hal Downes Trophy as Michigan's most valuable player last year, leading the team in shorthanded and game-winning goals. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the third round (64th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
This season, Norris, a freshman forward, has eight points (3G, 5A) through 14 games. He also won gold for Team USA in the 2017 Under-18 World Championship in Slovakia. Norris was selected 19th overall by the San Joe Sharks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
All three players are products of the United States National Team Development Program.
Team USA has medaled in five of the last eight IIHF World Junior Championships, earning gold in 2010, 2013 and 2017, and bronze in 2011 and 2016.
Michigan players have brought home 23 medals (12 gold, four silver, seven bronze). Junior defenseman Joseph Cecconi was a member of last year's U.S. team that captured a gold medal in the 2017 World Junior Championship in Montreal, Canada.
Hughes, Lockwood and Norris will miss the Great Lakes Invitational (Jan. 1-2) and potentially could miss the Friday (Jan. 5) and Sunday (Jan. 7) home-and-home contests against Notre Dame.
• Watch: Inside Michigan Hockey - Josh Norris
• Watch: Ice Hockey Profile - Quinn Hughes
• Ice Hockey Midseason Report: Marody, Hughes Highlight Season's First Half
