Dowell Named to 2004 U.S. National Junior Team
December 09, 2003 | Men's Hockey
USA Hockey announced the final 22-player roster for the 2004 United States National Junior Team and have added University of Wisconsin freshman Jake Dowell (Eau Claire, Wis.) to the team. Dowell joins current Badger freshmen defensemen Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis.) and Jeff Likens (Barrington, Ill.), whose selections to the team were previously announced. The squad will compete at the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2003 through Jan. 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland.
The preliminary roster, released in late October, named 16 players, including 10 returners. Joining this group will be four forwards and two defensemen. Of the six final additions to the roster, one is currently playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), four are playing NCAA Division I hockey and one is a member of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves will direct the team from behind the bench. Former UW assistant coach John Hynes will serve as one of Eaves' assistants for the tournament. During Eaves' absence, Associate Head Coach Troy Ward will assume Wisconsin's head coaching duties.
The United States has never won gold at the event, but is considered one of the favorites at this year's tournament.
Dowell, who was a member of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP) for two years (2001-03), served as an assistant captain of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. In 2001-02, as a member of the U.S. National Under-17 Team, Dowell earned a gold medal at the World Under-17 Challenge. He currently leads all WCHA rookies with nine points in league games.
Dowell, Suter, Likens and Eaves will each miss four Wisconsin games while away for the tournament. They will miss the Badger Hockey Showdown on Dec. 27 and 28 at the Kohl Center and a WCHA series at Minnesota State on Jan. 2 and 3.
Not well known in the U.S., the tournament is viewed as one of the world's most important ice hockey tournaments. Two members of the U.S. team, Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks and Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings, have been named to the team and are awaiting releases from their NHL clubs. Pittsburgh Penguins' top goaltender Marc-Andre Fluery has been released from his NHL team and will play for Canada.
