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Brisson, Wolf named to preliminary U.S. World Junior Team roster

By Brian McDonough, 11/30/20, 3:45PM PST

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Two former Los Angeles Jr. Kings - forward Brendan Brisson and goaltender Dustin Wolf - were two of 29 players named to the preliminary roster of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team.

Two former Los Angeles Jr. Kings - forward Brendan Brisson and goaltender Dustin Wolf - were two of 29 players named to the preliminary roster of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team.

The players, who will gather for a training camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., starting Dec. 6, are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2021 World Junior Championship, which will be showcased in Edmonton from Dec. 25, 2020-Jan. 5, 2021. The final roster will be announced on Dec. 13 prior to the team’s departure from Plymouth to Edmonton that day.

The 2001-born Brisson, who was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft (29th overall), is in his freshman season at the University of Michigan.

Last season, Brisson skated for the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Chicago Steel and was named the USHL Rookie of the Year and to the All-USHL First Team. 

Wolf (pictured), who signed an entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames in May - the team that selected him in the seventh round of last year's draft (214th overall) - capped off an award-laden 2019-20 season himself with the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Everett Silvertips, earning a spot on the WHL Western Conference First-Team while also being named the WHL Western Conference Goaltender of the Year and ultimately the league’s Goaltender of the Year and Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Year.

A member of last year's U.S. World Junior Team, the 2001-born Wolf was also named the recipient of the USA Hockey Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year award.

Three other 2001-born players who've donned the Jr. Kings sweater - forward Nick Robertson and defensemen Drew Helleson and Jackson LaCombe - were also named to the preliminary roster.

LaCombe, who was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in last year's draft (second round, 39th overall), is in his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota. Robertson, a second-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019 (53rd overall), skated last season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes. A second-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche last year (47th overall), Helleson is in his sophomore season at Boston College.

“We have a talented group and we’ll have some tough decisions to make,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “We continue to benefit from a deep player pool, and that’s credit to all of the organizations and volunteers developing the next wave of American talent.”

The United States enters the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship seeking its fifth medal in six years after earning a record four-consecutive medals: gold in 2017; silver in 2019; and bronze in both 2018 and 2016.