This will be Ufko's first time skating for his home country on the IIHF stage. Additionally, Ufko is the only New York native on Team USA's 25-man roster.
Selected by Nashville in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Ufko will skate alongside NHL defensive prospects Luke Hughes, Sean Behrens, Seamus Casey, Ryan Chesley, Lane Hutson and Jack Peart, as well as 2023 Draft hopeful Luke Mittelstadt.
Ufko, currently skating with the UMass Minutemen, has 13 points (3g-10a) in 16 outings.
The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Monday, Dec. 26 with four games, including Team USA vs. Latvia at Avenir Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick, at 3 p.m. CT.
Team USA will also face Slovakia, Switzerland and Finland to conclude the tournament's preliminary round before the bronze and gold medal games begin on Jan. 5. Each game of Team USA's tournament schedule will be broadcast on NHL Network.
Click here for more information on the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship
and follow NashvillePredators.com and @PredsNHL social media channels for updates on Nashville prospects participating in the tournament.
