We’re beginning to get a better idea of who will be representing USA Hockey at this winter’s World Junior tournament, as the program cut 13 players from the current Summer Showcase group. The showcase is being held currently in Kamloops, British Columbia and is a chance for the coaching staff to see how their young prospects play together. The two US teams took on Canada yesterday, and won both games. Those two groups will be combined into one for the final three matches, and will no longer include the following players.
D Max Gildon (FLA, 66th overall, 2017)
D Tommy Miller (undrafted)
D David Farrance (NSH, 92nd overall, 2017)
D Josh Ess (CHI, 215th overall, 2017)
D Alec Regula (DET, 67th overall, 2018)
F Curtis Hall (BOS, 119th overall, 2018)
F Cole Coskey (undrafted)
F Ivan Lodnia (MIN, 85th overall, 2017)
F Jake Wise (CHI, 69th overall, 2018)
F Jacob McGrew (SJS, 159th overall, 2017)
F Brandon Kruse (VGK, 135th overall, 2018)
F Logan Hutsko (FLA, 89th overall, 2018)
F Jon Gruden (OTT, 95th overall, 2018)
The remaining 29 players can be found here, though that includes Ryan Poehling who will not be used in any game action after undergoing surgery less than a month ago. Those players who were cut are not necessarily out of the running for a spot on the World Junior roster, though they’d have to have quite the first half of the season or hope for an injury to one of those who remain. The US will take on Sweden tomorrow afternoon, who they lost to earlier in the tournament.