Team USA roster for World Juniors announced

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CAMOSE, Alberta -- Team USA coach Dean Blais announced his final hockey roster yesterday for next week's World Junior Championships in Alberta, Canada.

A total of 28 players were vying for 22 spots and several players with Minnesota connections made the final roster. Making the team are Golden Gophers Kyle Rau of Eden Prairie and Nick Bjugstad of Blaine, North Dakota defenseman Derek Forbort of Duluth and Nebraska-Omaha forward Josh Archibald of Brainerd. Minnesota-Duluth defenseman Justin Faulk of South St. Paul was cut from the final roster. Wild prospects Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle also made the Team USA roster.

Blais, who is the head coach at Nebraska-Omaha, is an International Falls native and former Gopher hockey player. Minnesota-Duluth head coach Scott Sundelin is an assistant on the team, as is Tom Ward of Prior Lake, who coaches Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school in Faribault.

The U.S. has played two exhibition games so far in Canada, losing to Russia and beating Switzerland. The Americans have one more exhibition contest tonight against Slovakia in Camrose, before the tourney begins on Monday with pool play against Denmark in Edmonton.

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