Oettinger, Robertson, Shea to represent Stars at 2021 World Championship
This marks the trio's first time participating in the 16-nation tournament, which runs May 21-June 6 in Riga, Latvia
Stars rookies Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson were named to the club, and prospect Ryan Shea also got the call to represent the United States in the 16-nation tournament that runs May 21 through June 6. (All Team USA games plus quarterfinal, semifinal and medal contests will be broadcast on NHL Network).
Complete coverage: [Follow Oettinger, Robertson and Shea's quest for gold at Worlds]
Though international competition is nothing new to Oettinger and Robertson, Shea is one of 10 players on the roster who will be suiting up for Team USA in an IIHF event for the first time. Team USA's 26-man roster is composed of three goaltenders, nine defensemen and 14 forwards, including eight first- or second-round NHL Draft picks and eight players (six full-time, including Oettinger) that have been part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Programs.
Oettinger, 22, has represented the United States on four previous occasions, including the 2015 Under-18 World Championship (gold), 2016 Under-18 World Championship (bronze) and World Junior Championships in 2017 and '18, where he helped the U.S. win gold and bronze, respectively.
The Lakeville, Minnesota native appeared in three games at the 2018 World Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York, posting a 1-0-0 mark with a 2.77 goals-against average and .889 save percentage to help Team USA earn bronze.
Selected in the first round (26th overall) of the 2017 draft, Oettinger finished the 2020-21 NHL season with an 11-8-7 record, 2.36 GAA, .911 SV% and one shutout in 29 appearances with the Stars. He stopped 20-of-23 shots on Jan. 28 against Detroit for his first career NHL win, and posted a 21-save shutout for the first of his career on March 6 vs. Columbus. Oettinger helped the Stars earn points in each of his first five games of the season (2-0-3) and established new career highs with 41 saves on 43 shots on April 3 at Carolina.
Robertson, 21, is making his second appearance on the international stage with Team USA. The Arcadia, California native earned a silver medal at the 2019 World Junior Championship in Vancouver, finishing the tournament ranked tied for second on Team USA in scoring with seven points (one goal, six assists) in seven games.
Chosen in the second round (39th overall) of the 2017 draft, Robertson was one of the NHL's most productive rookies of the 2020-21 season. He led all rookies in assists (28), ranked tied for second in goals (17) and second overall in points (45). Robertson logged a nine-game point streak (four goals, nine assists, 13 points) from April 13-27, the longest by a rookie in Stars history and the longest by an NHL rookie since 2017-18. He also established new career-highs with four assists/points and a plus-3 rating on March 9 vs. Chicago, tying the franchise mark for most helpers and points in a single game by a rookie.
Shea, 24, has six assists/points in 27 games this season with the Texas Stars, Dallas' top development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Signed to a two-year, entry-level contract last August, the Milton, Massachusetts native had a decorated collegiate career at Northeastern University.
In four seasons with the Huskies, Shea registered 78 points (10g/68a) in 149 games -- tied for third all-time in games played in school history. Shea also helped Northeastern win the 2019 Hockey East Championship, as well as three consecutive Beanpot Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
He captained the 2019-20 squad and was named a 2020 Hockey East Second-Team All-Star in his senior season, establishing new collegiate career highs in goals (five), assists (team-high 26) and points (31).
Team USA roster
Goaltenders
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars (NHL)
Cal Petersen, Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Anthony Stolarz, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Defensemen
Adam Clendening, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
Matt Hellickson, Binghamton Senators (AHL)
Zac Jones, New York Rangers (NHL)
Connor Mackey, Calgary Flames (NHL)
Matt Roy, Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Ryan Shea, Texas Stars (AHL)
Matt Tennyson, New Jersey Devils (NHL)
Chris Wideman, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod (RUS)
Christian Wolanin, Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Forwards
Justin Abdelkader, EV Zug (SUI)
Matty Beniers, University of Michigan (Big 10)
Colin Blackwell, New York Rangers (NHL)
Brian Boyle, Florida Panthers (NHL)
Sasha Chmelevski, San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Ryan Donato, San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Jack Drury, Vaxjo Lakers (SWE)
Conor Garland, Arizona Coyotes (NHL)
Kevin Labanc, San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Trevor Moore, Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars (NHL)
Eric Robinson, Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Kevin Rooney, New York Rangers (NHL)
Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Head coach
Jack Capuano
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.
