USA Hockey announced the preliminary roster for its 2022 World Junior Championship team on Tuesday. There are 31 players competing for spots on the final 25-man list, with the annual under-20 tournament starting on Dec. 26 in Red Deer and Edmonton, Canada.
One year ago, Team USA brought home the gold medal after defeating Canada, 2-0, in the championship game. Given the names listed on the preliminary roster, the U.S. looks like a good bet to again be in the running for a first-place finish at the International Ice Hockey Federation’s signature under-20 competition.
There are five players who have ties to the Tri-State area: Matthew Coronato, Declan McDonnell and Luke Pavicich hail from New York, along with Connecticut products Mackie Samoskevich and Scott Morrow.
Coronato, from Huntington, N.Y., is a serious competitor to crack USA’s final roster, thanks to the immediate success he’s found at Harvard University. Through nine games as a freshman, Coronato has scored four goals and six assists for a start worthy of his status as one of the top young American prospects in college hockey.
