Badgers Await Word on World Juniors
December 03, 2007 | Men's Hockey
Wisconsin men's hockey will find out in the next two weeks who, if anyone, will be selected to play in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, which runs Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 in the Czech Republic.
On Monday, Hockey Canada announced it has invited 37 of its best under-20 hockey players to its national junior selection camp, which runs Dec. 10-14 at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary, Alberta. The only two current NCAA players invited are Badger rookies - forward Kyle Turris (New Westminster, B.C.) and defenseman Brendan Smith (Mimico, Ontario). The team is expected to be named following the camp.
On Tuesday, USA Hockey will announce its team selections for the tournament during the intermissions of the Detroit Red Wings-Montreal Canadiens contest, which begins 6:30 p.m. CT on Versus. The forwards will be announced in the first intermission, while the defensemen and goaltenders will follow during the second intermission.
UW sophomore forward Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.) and sophomore defenseman Jamie McBain (Fairbault, Minn.), along with freshman defenseman Ryan McDonagh (Arden Hills, Minn.), figure to be in the mix for a roster spot as all three were part of the 45-player evaluation camp held this past summer in Lake Placid, N.Y. Both Geoffrion and McBain skated for the U.S. under-20 team at last year's event, capturing the bronze medal.
The University of Wisconsin has a long history with the World Junior Championship as at least one Badger has skated in the event in eight of the past nine years. Since 1978, a Badger has taken part in all but six of the World Junior Championships.
