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St. Cloud State's Ryan Poehling named to Team USA for 2019 World Juniors
12/24/2018 7:09:00 AM | Men's Hockey
St. Cloud State University junior forward Ryan Poehling (Lakeville, Minn./North H.S.) has been selected to the roster of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2019 Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships. The upcoming tournament will be held in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, from Dec. 26, 2018 - Jan. 5, 2019. This marks the second consecutive year that Poehling has been named to the U.S. team for the IIHF World Junior championships.
"We've said from day one that this is a selection process, and as a staff we're thrilled with the 23 players selected to represent the United States in one of the greatest tournaments on the hockey calendar," said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "By no means did we come to this decision easily, and that's a credit to the players. It's easy to say our talent pool is deeper than it's ever been, but so too is the character of these young players, and now it's time for these 23 selected players to come together and represent our country with pride."
The final roster, which can be found here, features three goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards. Of the 23 players named to the roster, 21 hold development ties to U.S. junior hockey leagues, including 11 products of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. Additionally, 15 have previously represented the United States in IIHF tournament play, including five returnees from last year's bronze medal-winning U.S. National Junior Team and a total of nine players who helped the U.S. earn a gold medal as a member of the 2017 U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team.
Poehling (Lakeville, Minn.) has compiled 17 points in 16 games this season for the #1 ranked Huskies with three goals and a team-best 14 assists, which is second in the NCHC. The Montreal Canadiens draft pick is +7 with 25 shots on goal so far this season. At the 2018 World Junior Championship, Poehling tallied a goal and two assists, while firing 14 shots on goal in seven games. He also handed out an assist in last night's 6-2 win over the Czech Republic.
Team USA will begin play in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship next Wednesday (Dec. 26) in Victoria, B.C., against Slovakia. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and can be seen live on NHL Network.
The U.S. National Junior Team has won the World Junior Championship three times of late, winning gold in 2010, 2013 and 2017, while claiming bronze in 2011 and 2016, in addition to last year.
The #1 ranked SCSU men's hockey team will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 27 with a home exhibition game against the U.S. National Team Development Program U18 team at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Tickets for this game are specially priced at just $10 and you can purchase them at scsutickets.com or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX. All youth up to grade 12 will be admitted FREE for this game. Call 1-877-SCSUTIX for details on these offers.
