MADISON, Wis. – The United States owns three all-time gold medals at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championships, and on all three occasions, a Wisconsin Badger has served as team captain.

While this year's team won't be finalized until December, there are three members of the Wisconsin men's hockey team among the 42 players invited to take part in the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp that runs July 30 through Aug. 7 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.

The group, sophomore Luke Kunin and freshmen Trent Frederic and JD Greenway, will do their best to impress in attempt to make this year's U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Montreal and Toronto, Canada.

The week-long camp will feature 10 international competitions between Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.

The United States, which has medaled in four of the last seven IIHF World Junior Championships (gold - 2010, 2013; bronze - 2011, 2016), aims to claim back-to-back medal finishes for the second time ever (2010 - gold, 2011 - bronze). 

For a complete camp schedule, click here.

UW has gone two years without a representative playing in the event, last sending Nic Kerdiles with Team USA in 2014.

However, current UW associate head coach Mark Osiecki served as the head coach in 2015 and an assistant coach three times for the U.S. National Junior Team, including in 2013, 2011 and 2010. During 2015, current fellow UW associate head coach Don Granato served as one of Osiecki's assistant coaches. Also, Jim Johannson has served as the team general manager each year since 2010 and has been involved with the team for many years prior.

As for Team USA's past successes with Badgers serving as captains, Jake McCabe led the 2013 team to gold, Derek Stepan guided the 2010 team to the title and Ryan Suter helped the U.S. win its first-ever gold medal at the event in 2005.