Compher Named To Team USA's Worlds Roster

Colorado Avalanche rookie forward J.T. Compher has been selected to represent the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in May, USA Hockey announced on Thursday.
Compher made his first World Championship appearance in 2016, where he recorded one goal and two assists in 10 games en route to winning a bronze medal.
This was not the forward's first international tournament run, however. Compher competed in five contests for Team USA at the 2015 World Junior Championship in Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec. Prior to that, he captained Team America to a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, registering seven points (three goals, four assists) in as many contests. He was named one of the top three players on the squad by tournament coaches.

One of his most successful competitions came at the 2012 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, where he helped the United States win a gold medal. Compher recorded five points (two goals and three assists) in six games at the tournament. He was prepared for the task after putting up 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists) in 52 games with the Unites States National Team Development Program's Under-18 club during the 2012-13 season.
The Northbrook, Illinois, native's first adventure with Team USA came with a silver medal win at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he collected three goals and six assists in five contests.
Compher made his NHL debut on March 2 as the Avs took on the Ottawa Senators in Ontario, and he finished the season with Colorado, registering five points (three goals, two assists) in 21 games. He also had 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 41 AHL games with the San Antonio Rampage during his first season of professional hockey.
Prior to signing his three-year, entry-level contract, Compher spent three campaigns skating with the University of Michigan Wolverines. He was named captain his junior year and collected 63 points (16 goals and 47 assists) in 38 contests.
The United States will compete in Group A and takes on the host Germans in the preliminary round at LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany, on May 5.