The 19-year-old defenseman, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, is playing in the tournament for the second straight time. He was a plus-3 in seven games to help the U.S. finish second at the 2019 WJC.
Defenseman
K'Andre Miller
(New York Rangers) and forward
Oliver Wahlstrom
(New York Islanders) were named alternate captains. Like Samuelsson, each played in the 2019 WJC.
"I'm excited about this group," U.S. coach Scott Sandelin said. "We've got five returners who are going to be a big part of this team. Going back to the summer (World Junior Summer Showcase), being around them in their second year, the maturity and leadership they showed is what we were looking for."
Also returning from the 2019 WJC are forward
Jack Drury
(Carolina Hurricanes) and
Spencer Knight
(Florida Panthers), who was the third goalie and didn't play.
The 2020 WJC will be played in the Czech Republic starting Thursday and running through Jan. 5. The U.S. is in Group B for the preliminary round, along with Canada, Russia, Czech Republic and Germany, and will play at Ostravar Arena in Ostrava. Group A consists of Finland, the defending champion, along with Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia and Kazakhstan, and will play its preliminary-round games at Werk Arena in Trinec.
NHL Network will broadcast 20 games live
, including the United States playing Canada on Thursday (1 p.m. ET), as well as the semifinals, consolation game and final.
U.S. WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER
GOALIES:Spencer Knight, Boston College, H-EAST, (Florida Panthers); Isaiah Saville, Nebraska-Omaha, NCHC (Vegas Golden Knights); Dustin Wolf, Everett, WHL (Calgary Flames)
DEFENSEMEN: Ty Emberson, Wisconsin, BIG10 (Arizona Coyotes); Jordan Harris, Northeastern, H-EAST (Montreal Canadiens); Zachary Jones, UMass, H-EAST (New York Rangers); K'Andre Miller, Wisconsin, BIG10 (New York Rangers); Mattias Samuelsson, Western Michigan, NCHC (Buffalo Sabres); Spencer Stastney, Notre Dame, BIG10 (Nashville Predators); Cameron York, Michigan, BIG10 (Philadelphia Flyers)
FORWARDS:John Beecher, Michigan, BIG10 (Boston Bruins); Bobby Brink, Denver, NCHC (Philadelphia Flyers); Cole Caufield, Wisconsin, BIG10 (Montreal Canadiens); Jack Drury, Harvard, ECAC (Carolina Hurricanes); Parker Ford, Providence, H-EAST (2020 draft eligible); Curtis Hall, Yale, ECAC (Boston Bruins); Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton, OHL (Los Angeles Kings); Shane Pinto, North Dakota, NCHC (Ottawa Senators); Jacob Pivonka, Notre Dame, BIG10 (New York Islanders); Nicholas Robertson, Peterborough, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs); Alex Turcotte, Wisconsin, BIG10 (Los Angeles Kings); Oliver Wahlstrom, Bridgeport, AHL (New York Islanders); Trevor Zegras, Boston University, H-EAST (Anaheim Ducks)
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