Who’s heading to Buffalo?

A year after having five players make USA Hockey’s roster for the World Junior Championship, the pickings are slimmer this year in the Empire State.

With the start of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship a little over a month away, it’s a good time to start thinking about what New York natives could make the U.S. team.

Making the roster this year carries even more weight than usual, especially for Western New York natives. The 2018 rendition takes place in Buffalo, N.Y., and for the first time ever, the U.S. will face off against the Canadians outside at New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The only New York native from last year’s team that is still eligible is a lock, and not just because he was on the team previously.

Jericho, N.Y., native Adam Fox is a shoe-in for making the U.S. squad because of his dynamic puck-moving ability from the backend. The Harvard sophomore defenseman is a 2016 third round NHL Entry Draft pick of the Calgary Flames.