World Junior Summer Showcase preview

The United States' quest to win a second straight World Junior Championship begins at the World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, from July 28-Aug. 5.
The showcase features practices and games against Canada, Sweden and Finland. It's the first step in picking the rosters for the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.
The U.S. will have 42 players at the camp, including seven who were part of the team that won gold at the 2017 WJC in Montreal, as well as coach Bob Motzko and his staff.

Among the returnees are two of the three goaltenders. Joseph Woll (Toronto Maple Leafs) went 2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in two games. Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) was the third goalie and didn't play. Tyler Parsons (Calgary Flames), the No. 1 goalie at the 2017 WJC, has aged out of the under-20 tournament.
Motzko said no roster spots will be won or lost based on a few days in the summer, but the experience factor gives Woll and Oettinger an advantage.
"We're looking for that battle level and compete against each other," Motzko said. "I think that's the healthiest thing we can have, respectful competition for a competitive group."
Canada also seems settled in goal with Carter Hart (Philadelphia Flyers) back after helping win the silver medal at the 2017 WJC. He went 3-1 with a 2.38 GAA and .906 save percentage; his only loss was 5-4 in a shootout against the U.S. in the gold-medal game.
"A guy that went through it once, that knows what to expect, is something that can only be positive," Canada coach Dominique Ducharme said.
Ducharme also coached Canada at the 2017 WJC.
"It's a short tournament with a lot of intensity and games on the line all the time. To be able to have a guy that comes back like that is for sure a big plus."
Beyond goal, the U.S. and Canada will have deep, impressive defenses. The U.S. will have two defensemen at the Summer Showcase from the 2017 WJC team, Adam Fox (Calgary Flames) and Ryan Lindgren (Boston Bruins).
"It appears to us right now that it has a similar feel as last year with depth, strong depth throughout the lineup, strong depth at defense, a little size and nastiness at defense," Motzko said.
Canada will have six players at the Summer Showcase who were first-round picks: Jake Bean (Carolina Hurricanes), Dante Fabbro (Nashville Predators), Dennis Cholowski (Detroit Red Wings), Callan Foote (Tampa Bay Lightning), Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) and Logan Stanley (Winnipeg Jets). Bean and Fabbro played in the 2017 WJC.

"Defense for sure is a position where we have depth and we have talent," Ducharme said. "Not just in the numbers, but the quality of the guys that are available for us and will be available for us [for the tournament]. That's something really positive for us."
Sweden, which finished fourth at the 2017 WJC, will have six players at the Summer Showcase from that team, including 2017 first-round picks forwards Elias Pettersson (No. 5, Canucks) and Lias Andersson (No. 7, New York Rangers). Finland, which finished ninth, will have seven players from that team at camp, among them four 2017 first-round picks, defensemen Miro Heiskanen (No. 3, Stars), Juuso Valimaki (No. 16, Flames), and Urho Vaakanainen (No. 18, Bruins), and forward Kristian Vesalainen (No. 24, Jets).
There also will be several top prospects for the 2018 NHL Draft at the camp, led by Sweden defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who played in the 2017 WJC and is a candidate to go No. 1. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in 26 games with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League as a 16-year-old last season. He turned 17 on April 13.
"Excellent overall skill level and good size (6-foot-1, 166 pounds), which he uses his size to his advantage," European director of Central Scouting Goran Stubb said. "He does not shy away from the rough part of the game. He is a terrific skater and a very good puck-handler. His style of play and his decision-making is unbelievable for a player of his age."
Other top prospects at the camp will be forwards Brady Tkachuk and Oliver Wahlstrom, and defenseman Quinton Hughes for the U.S., Sweden center Isac Lundestrom and Finland forward Jesse Ylonen.

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WORLD JUNIOR SUMMER SHOWCASE ROSTERS

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UNITED STATES

GOALIES: Jake Oettinger, Boston University, H-EAST (Dallas Stars); Keith Petruzzelli, Muskegon, USHL (Detroit Red Wings); Dylan St. Cyr, USA U-18, USHL (2018 draft eligible); Joseph Woll, Boston College, H-EAST (Toronto Maple Leafs)

DEFENSEMEN: Michael Anderson, Waterloo, USHL (Los Angeles Kings); Sean Day, Windsor, OHL (New York Rangers); Adam Fox, Harvard, ECAC (Calgary Flames); Maxwell Gildon, New Hampshire, H-EAST (Florida Panthers); Quinton Hughes, Michigan, BIG10 (2018 draft eligible); Tyler Inamoto, USA U-18, USHL (Florida Panthers); Philip Kemp, USA U-18, USHL (Edmonton Oilers); Nathan Knoepke, USA U-18, USHL (2018 draft eligible); Chad Krys, Boston University, H-EAST (Chicago Blackhawks); Ryan Lindgren, Minnesota, BIG10 (Boston Bruins); Luke Martin, Michigan, BIG10 (Carolina Hurricanes); Andrew Peeke, Notre Dame, H-EAST (Columbus Blue Jackets); Dylan Samberg, Hermantown, HIGH-MN (Winnipeg Jets)
FORWARDS: Joseph Anderson, Minnesota-Duluth, NCHC (New Jersey Devils); Jack Badini, Chicago, USHL (Anaheim Ducks); Evan Barratt, USA U-18, USHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Kieffer Bellows, Portland, WHL (New York Islanders); Logan Brown, Windsor, OHL (Ottawa Senators); Alexander Chmelevski, Ottawa, OHL (San Jose Sharks); Logan Cockerill, USA U-18 (New York Islanders); Sean Dhooghe, USA U-18, USHL (2018 draft eligible); Trent Frederic, Wisconsin, BIG10 (Boston Bruins); Maxwell Gerlach, Medicine Hat, WHL (2018 draft eligible); Timothy Gettinger, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL (New York Rangers); Patrick Harper, Boston University, H-EAST (Nashville Predators); Max Jones, London, OHL (Anaheim Ducks); Patrick Khodorenko, Michigan State, BIG10 (2018 draft eligible); William Lockwood, Michigan, BIG10 (Vancouver Canucks); Ivan Lodnia, Erie, OHL (Minnesota Wild); Grant Mismash, USA U-18 (Nashville Predators); Casey Mittelstadt, Eden Prairie, HIGH-MN (Buffalo Sabres); Joshua Norris, USA U-18, USHL (San Jose Sharks); Ryan Poehling, St. Cloud State, NCHC (Montreal Canadiens); Jason Robertson, Kingston, OHL (Dallas Stars); Brady Tkachuk, Boston University, H-EAST (2018 draft eligible); Riley Tufte, Minnesota-Duluth, NCHC (Dallas Stars); Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane, WHL (Edmonton Oilers); Oliver Wahlstrom, USA U-18, USHL (2018 draft eligible)

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CANADA

GOALIES: Michael DiPietro, Windsor, OHL (Vancouver Canucks); Carter Hart, Everett, WHL (Philadelphia Flyers); Stuart Skinner, Lethbridge, WHL (Edmonton Oilers); Dylan Wells, Peterborough, OHL (Edmonton Oilers)
DEFENSEMEN: Jake Bean, Calgary, WHL (Carolina Hurricanes); Dennis Cholowski, St. Cloud State, NCHC (Detroit Red Wings); Kale Clague, Brandon, WHL (Los Angeles Kings); Dante Fabbro, Boston University, H-EAST (Nashville Predators); Callan Foote, Kelowna, WHL (Tampa Bay Lightning); Samuel Girard, Shawinigan, QMJHL (Nashville Predators); Nicolas Hague, Mississauga, OHL (Vegas Golden Knights); Josh Mahura, Regina, WHL (Anaheim Ducks); Cale Makar, Brooks, AJHL (Colorado Avalanche); Victor Mete, London, OHL (Montreal Canadiens); David Quenneville, Medicine Hat, WHL (New York Islanders); Conor Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL (Colorado Avalanche); Logan Stanley, Windsor, OHL (Winnipeg Jets)

FORWARDS: Jonathan Ang, Peterborough, OHL (Florida Panthers); \Tyler Benson, Vancouver, WHL (Edmonton Oilers); William Bitten, Hamilton, OHL (Montreal Canadiens); Dillon Dube, Kelowna, WHL (Calgary Flames); Pierre-Luc Dubois, Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL (Columbus Blue Jackets); Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound, OHL (Vancouver Canucks); Cody Glass, Portland, WHL (Vegas Golden Knights); Brett Howden, Moose Jaw, WHL (Tampa Bay Lightning); Tyson Jost, Colorado Avalanche; Tanner Kaspick, Brandon, WHL (St. Louis Blues); Boris Katchouk, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL (Tampa Bay Lightning); Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia, OHL (St. Louis Blues); Kole Lind, Kelowna, WHL (Vancouver Canucks); \Adam Mascherin, Kitchener, OHL (Florida Panthers); Michael McLeod, Mississauga, OHL (New Jersey Devils); \Nolan Patrick, Kelowna, WHL (Philadelphia Flyers); Matthew Phillips, Victoria, WHL (Calgary Flames); Cliff Pu, London, OHL (Buffalo Sabres); Taylor Raddysh, Erie, OHL (Tampa Bay Lightning); Michael Rasmussen, Tri-City, WHL (Detroit Red Wings); Mason Shaw, Medicine Hat, WHL (Minnesota Wild); Givani Smith, Guelph, OHL (Detroit Red Wings); Sam Steel, Regina, WHL (Anaheim Ducks); Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound, OHL (Vegas Golden Knights); Robert Thomas, London, OHL (St. Louis Blues); Owen Tippett, Mississauga, OHL (Florida Panthers); \Gabriel Vilardi, Windsor, OHL (Los Angeles Kings)
\- invited but unable to attend*

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SWEDEN

GOALIES: Filip Gustavsson, Lulea, SWE (Pittsburgh Penguins); Filip Larsson, Tri-City, USHL (Detroit Red Wings); Isak Wallin, Modo, SWE-2 (2018 draft eligible)
DEFENSEMEN: Erik Brannstrom, HV 71, SWE (Vegas Golden Knights); Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda, SWE (2018 draft eligible); Linus Hogberg, Vaxjo, SWE (Philadelphia Flyers); Timothy Liljegren, Rogle, SWE (Toronto Maple Leafs); Gustav Lindstrom, Almtuna, SWE-2 (Detroit Red Wings); Jacob Moverare, Mississauga, OHL (Los Angeles Kings); Jesper Sellgren, Modo, SWE-2 (2018 draft eligible); Filip Westerlund, Frolunda, SWE (Arizona Coyotes)

FORWARDS: Lias Andersson, Frolunda, SWE (New York Rangers); Jesper Boqvist, Brynas, SWE (New Jersey Devils); Jesper Bratt, AIK, SWE-2 (New Jersey Devils); Marcus Davidsson, Djurgarden, SWE (Buffalo Sabres); Glenn Gustafsson, Orebro, SWE (2018 draft eligible); Rickard Hugg, Kitchener, OHL (2018 draft eligible); Axel Jonsson Fjallby, Djurgarden, SWE (Washington Capitals); Fredrik Karlstrom, Linkoping, SWE (Dallas Stars); Linus Lindstrom, Skelleftea, SWE (Calgary Flames); Isac Lundestrom, Lulea, SWE (2018 draft eligible); Elias Pettersson, Vaxjo, SWE (Vancouver Canucks); Tim Soderlund, Skelleftea, SWE (Chicago Blackhawks); Oskar Steen, Farjestad, SWE (Boston Bruins); Tim Wahlgren, Modo, SWE-2 (2018 draft eligible)

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FINLAND

GOALIES: Justus Annunen, Karpat Jr., FIN-JR (2018 draft eligible); Leevi Laakso, Hermes, FIN-2 (2018 draft eligible); Lassi Lehtinen, Lukko, FIN (2018 draft eligible); Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, HPK, FIN (Buffalo Sabres)
DEFENSEMEN: Roni Allen, JYP Jr., FIN-JR (2018 draft eligible); Niclas Almari, HPK, FIN (Pittsburgh Penguins); Miro Heiskanen, HIFK, FIN (Dallas Stars); Kasper Kotkansalo, Sioux Falls, USHL (Detroit Red Wings); Markus Niemelainen, HPK, FIN (Edmonton Oilers); Eemeli Rasanen, Kingston, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs); Tarmo Reunanen, TPS, FIN (New York Rangers); Robin Salo, Sport, FIN (New York Islanders); Urho Vaakanainen, SaiPa, FIN (Boston Bruins); Juuso Valimaki, Tri-City, WHL (Calgary Flames)

FORWARDS: Joni Ikonen, Frolunda Jr., SWE-JR (Montreal Canadiens); Joona Ikonen, Ilves, FIN (2018 draft eligible); Jere Innala, HPK, FIN (2018 draft eligible); Juha Jaaska, HIFK, FIN (2018 draft eligible); Otto Koivula, Ilves, FIN (New York Islanders); Joona Koppanen, Ilves, FIN (Boston Bruins); Niko Kuiri, Karpat Jr., FIN-JR (2018 draft eligible) Janne Kuokkanen, London, OHL (Carolina Hurricanes); Eetu Luostarinen, KalPa, FIN (Carolina Hurricanes); Otto Makinen, Tappara, FIN (2018 draft eligible); Sami Moilanen, Seattle, WHL (2018 draft eligible); Markus Nurmi, TPS, FIN (Ottawa Senators); Aapeli Rasanen, Sioux City, USHL (Edmonton Oilers); Aarne Talvitie, Blues Jr., FIN-JR (New Jersey Devils); Jerry Turkulainen, JYP, FIN (2018 draft eligible); Eetu Tuulola, HPK, FIN (Calgary Flames); Kristian Vesalainen, HPK, FIN (Winnipeg Jets); Santeri Virtanen, TPS Jr., FIN-JR (Winnipeg Jets); Jesse Ylonen, Espoo, FIN-2 (2018 draft eligible)