Though he only recently returned from injury, Keller projects as one of Team USA’s most exciting forwards to watch. Keller is a known quantity for USA Hockey — he holds the U.S. National Team Development Program record for points (189 on 71 goals and 118 assists) — and in the games he has played for Boston University this season, he’s shown he’s exactly the player everyone thinks he is.
Making the decision difficult are college freshmen Jake Oettinger (2017 draft eligible) of Boston University and Joseph Woll (Toronto Maple Leafs) of Boston College, and Tyler Parsons (Calgary Flames) of London in the Ontario Hockey League.
Forward Luke Kunin of the University of Wisconsin was named captain Sunday for the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The U.S. is conducting selection camp this week at HarborCenter to determine the 23 players who will make up the roster at the 2017 WJC.
“I’m extremely proud of this team,” said Jay Varady, head coach of the 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team. “We stayed the course after opening the tournament with a loss and came together as a group. It was a total team effort and this is a memory that none of us will ever forget.”
Jay Varady guided the Americans to the gold in 2014 at Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Tonight, beginning at 6 o’clock at R.J. Lalonde Arena, Varady’s group of 22 United States Hockey League skaters will face Canada East, with the winner taking home the top prize.
“It was a total team effort in all three facets of the game tonight,” said Jay Varady, head coach of the 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team. “I liked our energy from the moment the puck dropped. This team is peaking at the right time heading into tomorrow’s semifinal matchup.”
One player who could shine at World Juniors is Keller, who holds the U.S. National Team Development Program record for points with 189 on 71 goals and 118 assists. He was called into last year’s preliminary camp, which was held at Agganis Arena, alongside Bellows, Krys and McAvoy.
Goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.), named player of the game for the second consecutive World Sled Hockey Challenge championship game, made the initial save before Hickey tapped in the rebound.
“We just focused more and we had a good last five minutes of the first. We came out sluggish in the first,” said McKee. “Once we got that first goal, we got it going. The energy was there, the team was pumped.”
“It’s definitely a special feeling to know that we’ve been at the pinnacle of our sport for so long,” said goaltender Steve Cash.
