As the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships commence on Friday, let’s take a look at the five Michigan Wolverines that will represent Team USA and Team Canada in the Twin Cities.
Team USA
F Will Horcoff
The leading
goal scorer in the nation (19) was always a lock for the Americans and should play a massive role in their top six. There have been whispers that Horcoff, a natural winger, may need to play center as Team USA (relatively) lacks elite depth up the middle. He was the top line left winger in a pre-tournament game against Finland and should stay there, but wherever he lines up, expect his size, hands and knack for wreaking havoc around the crease to be a crucial factor for his team’s success.
F Cole McKinney
McKinney has been everything this coaching staff and fan base could have hoped for, having represented his country on the NTDP for two seasons and participated in numerous U18 and U17 international tournaments before arriving in Ann Arbor. His five goals and 11 points on the campaign are not game-breaking, but the freshman plays a refined game for someone so young and should be a real contributor in the bottom six.
LHD Asher Barnett
Speaking of revelations, Barnett has looked like a seasoned vet on the blue line for the Wolverines, routinely making the smart play and impressing with his poise and positioning. This is not the most stacked defense group for Team USA, but it still features some high-end talent led by players like Cole Hutson (Boston University) and Logan Hensler (Wisconsin). Barnett may not be a significant piece of this puzzle, but this will be valuable experience as he should be a stalwart on this squad next year.
LHD Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen
Another productive, left-shot defenseman, Rhéaume-Mullen has really taken that next step as a sophomore. This is a righty-heavy unit, and he should see plenty of time on the second or third pair. Rhéaume-Mullen is one of the more elite skaters on Team USA, and those legs and work ethic will be leaned upon if the Americans are to claim a third straight gold medal.
Team Canada
G Jack Ivankovic
Where to begin with Ivankovic, the likely midseason MVP of the top team in college hockey. The freshman has been a complete phenom, starting every game for Michigan with a 16-4-0 record, 1.90 goals against average and a fantastic .927 save percentage. The problem is this is still Canada hockey, and returning starter Carter George (Owen Sound Attack, OHL) should have the reins to start. If he slips up, Ivankovic is a more-than-capable replacement, but based on George’s performance a year ago, that feels unlikely.
