Flyers prospect York named captain of United States for 2021 WJC

Cameron York
, a Philadelphia Flyers defenseman prospect, was named captain of the United States for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The 19-year-old defenseman had no points and averaged 5:55 of ice time in five games at the 2020 World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic. He was selected by the Flyers with the No. 14 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft.
"It's a huge honor for myself and it's something that I definitely don't take lightly," York said. "But at the end of the day there's a room full of leaders in that locker room and it's going to take everybody if we want to be successful and win a gold medal."
York didn't have a point and averaged 5:55 of ice time in five games at the 2020 WJC, but some of that was based on injuries he was dealing with. This time he feels healthy and prepared for a better tournament.
"Last year I had a shoulder injury and high ankle sprain," he said. "This year I feel really good physically. I'm confident and I feel like I can finally trust my body out there. I think that's going to be really big for myself personally."
Forwards Alex Turcotte (Los Angeles Kings) and Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens) were named alternate captains for the first preliminary-round game against Russia on Friday (9:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN). Like York, Turcotte and Caufield each played in the 2020 WJC.
"It says a lot about this leadership group being voted in by their teammates," coach Nate Leaman said. "It's a tremendous honor to be named captains and represent your country. This isn't our team, this is their team. I believe our locker room is filled with leaders, and to be successful each guy will need to step up and be a leader in their own way, whether wearing a letter or not."
York has scored five points (two goals, three assists) with a plus-5 rating in eight games as a sophomore at the University of Michigan this season. He scored 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) and had a plus-9 rating in 30 games as a freshman in 2019-20.
York, Turcotte and Caufield are three of eight players returning from the U.S. team that finished sixth at the 2020 WJC in the Czech Republic: forwards Bobby Brink (Philadelphia Flyers), Arthur Kaliyev (Los Angeles Kings) and Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks), and goalies Spencer Knight (Florida Panthers) and Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames).
Zegras led the United States at the 2020 WJC with nine points, all assists, in five games. Kaliyev tied for first with four goals and was third with six points.
The 2021 WJC is scheduled for Dec. 25-Jan. 5, 2021 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, without fans in attendance and in a secure zone similar to what the NHL used for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
The United States will play its preliminary-round games in Group A. After their game against Russia, they will play Austria (Dec. 26), the Czech Republic (Dec. 29) and Sweden (Dec. 31).
The top four teams in each group will play in the quarterfinals Jan. 2. The semifinals will take place Jan. 4, and the championship and third-place games are Jan. 5. All games will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States, and on TSN and RDS in Canada.

U.S. WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER

GOALIES: Spencer Knight, Boston College, H-EAST (Florida Panthers); Logan Stein, Ferris State, WCHA (2021 draft eligible); Dustin Wolf, Everett, WHL (Calgary Flames)
DEFENSEMEN: Brock Faber, Minnesota, BIG 10 (Los Angeles Kings); Drew Helleson, Boston College, H-EAST (Colorado Avalanche); Ryan Johnson, Minnesota, BIG 10 (Buffalo Sabres); Tyler Kleven, North Dakota, NCHC (Ottawa Senators); Jackson LaCombe, Minnesota, BIG 10 (Anaheim Ducks); Jake Sanderson, North Dakota, NCHC (Ottawa Senators); Hunter Skinner, London, OHL (New York Rangers); Henry Thrun, Dubuque, USHL (Anaheim Ducks); Cameron York, Michigan, BIG 10 (Philadelphia Flyers)
FORWARDS: Matthew Beniers, Michigan, BIG 10 (2021 draft eligible); Brett Berard, Providence, H-EAST (New York Rangers); Matthew Boldy, Boston College, H-EAST (Minnesota Wild); Bobby Brink, Denver, NCHC (Philadelphia Flyers); Brendan Brisson, Michigan, BIG 10 (Vegas Golden Knights); Cole Caufield, Wisconsin, BIG 10 (Montreal Canadiens); Sam Colangelo, Northeastern, H-EAST (Anaheim Ducks); John Farinacci, Muskegon, USHL (Arizona Coyotes); Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton, OHL (Los Angeles Kings); Patrick Moynihan, Providence, H-EAST (New Jersey Devils); Landon Slaggert, Notre Dame, CCHA (Chicago Blackhawks); Alex Turcotte, Eisbaren Berlin, DEL (Los Angeles Kings); Trevor Zegras, San Diego, AHL (Anaheim Ducks)