Montoya and Howard expected to be named to USA's WJC Squad
 

I caught part of the Michigan/NMU game via webcast today. (Michigan won 5-2). According to Jim Hunt of the Ticket 1050 (Michigan Wolverines hockey flagship radio station), he was saying that Wolverine Al Montoya and Maine's Jimmy Howard are expected to be named to Team USA's WJD Squad. Team USA's roster will be officially announced tomorrow (10/27).

Well Jim Hunt called it!
 

Below is Team USA's WJC complete preliminary roster as announced earlirt today by USA Hockey. Some good names missing from this list, most notably Bobby Goepfert.

(Name Ht. (cm) Wt. (kg) Birthdate S/C Hometown 2003-04 Team/NHL Draft Rights)

GOALTENDERS (2)
Jimmy Howard* 6-1 (186) 217 (98.5) 3/26/84 L Ogdensburg, N.Y. Univ. of Maine (HE)/Detroit Red Wings
Alvaro Montoya 6-2 (189) 185 (84) 2/13/85 L Glenview, Ill. Univ. of Michigan (CCHA)/2004 Draft Eligible

DEFENSEMEN (6)
Matt Carle 6-0 (184) 190 (86.5) 9/25/84 L Anchorage, Alaska Univ. of Denver (WCHA)/San Jose Sharks
Jeff Likens 5-11 (182) 175 (79.5) 8/28/85 R Barrington, Ill. Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA)/2004 Draft Eligible
Corey Potter 6-3 (192) 186 (84.5) 1/5/84 R Mason, Mich. Michigan State Univ. (CCHA)/New York Rangers
Mark Stuart* 6-2 (189) 212 (96.5) 4/27/84 L Rochester, Minn. Colorado College (WCHA)/Boston Bruins
Ryan Suter* 6-1 (186) 189 (86) 1/21/85 L Madison, Wis. Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA)/Nashville Predators
James Wisniewski* 5-11 (182) 197 (89.5) 2/21/84 R Canton, Mich. Plymouth Whalers (OHL)/Chicago Blackhawks

FORWARDS (8)
Dustin Brown* 6-0 (184) 200 (91) 11/4/84 R Ithaca, N.Y. Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Patrick Eaves 6-0 (184) 185 (84) 5/1/84 R Faribault, Minn. Boston College (HE)/Ottawa Senators
Ryan Kesler* 6-2 (189) 195 (88.5) 8/31/84 R Livonia, Mich. Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Greg Moore* 6-1 (186) 208 (94.5) 3/26/84 R Lisbon, Maine Univ. of Maine (HE)/Calgary Flames
Patrick O’Sullivan* 6-0 (184) 180 (82) 2/1/85 L Sterling Heights, Mich. Mississauga Ice Dogs (OHL)/Minnesota Wild
Zach Parise* 5-11 (182) 180 (82) 7/28/84 L Faribault, Minn. Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA)/New Jersey Devils
Brett Sterling* 5-8 (174) 165 (75) 4/24/84 L Pasadena, Calif. Colorado College (WCHA)/Atlanta Thrashers
Stephen Werner 6-1 (186) 197 (89.5) 8/8/84 R Chevy Chase, Md. Univ. of Massachusetts (HE)/Washington Capitals

*Member of the 2003 U.S. National Junior Team

You can read all about who made the squad
HERE.

Goepfert is too old for the tournament.

There are still five forwards and one defensemen to be named but so far the squad looks good. I hadn't heard anyone mention Werner as a strong candidate for the team but I haven't seen too much of him so maybe he fits in well. Likens is also a bit of a surprise but I guess the fact that Mike Eaves will be coaching the team has something to do with it (although I have liked what I have seen from Likens the few times I've seen him).

Re: Goepfert. My bad, sorry.

I'm actually pleasantly surprised that Likens made it. He's been terrific for Wisconsin thus far. I agree that the list is missing some other great NCAA players: Ryan Potulny, Hugh Jessiman and Matt Nickerson are 3 that come to mind.

I would guess that the only reason Jessiman hasn't made the team yet is because Dartmouth hasn't played at all yet. USA Hockey is probably just going to see how he does before naming him to the team. Potulny has a good shot at making it too.

Nickerson on the other hand seems like a long shot at this point. However, he's an '85 so he will be eligible next year.

I think they are putting too much stock in experience over talent. As much as I like Greg Moore, Brett Sterling et al... they are missing guys like Schremp, Hennessy, and Pineault. I know that more people will be added, but just throwing in everyone that was on last years team may be a bit hasty in my opinion. Also... do they already have confirmation that Kesler and Brown will be released to the tourny?

One thing that has to be mentioned is that Eaves and USA Hockey probably want to put as many members of the team that won the U-18 World Championship on this team as they can. In fact, the only players on the list that were not part of that team are Montoya, Likens, and Brown.

Here's a roster for that team... http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0102/W18/gs/pg000054.htm

Hopefully they'll make sure to get some of the really talented guys like Schremp and Fritsche on the team.

As for Kesler and Brown, I doubt it's a sure thing with either yet. If Kesler stays in the AHL all year chances are he'll be released but Brown is a bigger question mark. If he starts scoring and LA continues to have injury trouble he may not be released. If he's sent back to juniors (something I've heard LA isn't leaning towards) he's a sure thing.

TMHUNH: I thought about Pinneault as well.

cagney: Well Nickerson has already proven that he's more than just a tough guy. He's shown some offensive prowess as well.

Now, this may be a stupid question but is this Schremp kid the real deal? I mean is he as good as everyone who's been raving about him says he is? I don't know much about him, but I've read some stuff on him here at HF. The stuff I've read seems to suggest that this kid is pretty darn good. :dunno:

Yeah, he is good. Has the size and the skills. I was lucky enough to see him when the U-18 team happened to come by NH during the week he was with the team. He didn't actually do much during the game, but you could tell by watching him in warmups that his skill set is unreal. I would say he is better than any forward so far on the WJC team.