Four WCHA Players Named To 2001 U.S. National Junior Team Roster

Team will compete in 2001 IIHF World Junior Championship.

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Dec. 6, 2000

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MADISON, Wisc. - Four players currently competing in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association have been named by USA Hockey to the 22-player roster for the 2001 U.S. National Junior Team, which will compete in the 2001 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship. They are forwards Troy Riddle and Jeff Taffe of the University of Minnesota, and defensemen David Hale of the University of North Dakota and Paul Martin of the University of Minnesota. Serving as an assistant coach will be former University of Minnesota-Duluth and NHL defenseman Jim Johnson.

The 2001 IIHF World Junior Championship, which features the world's top players under 20 years old, will be held Dec. 26, 2000 - Jan. 5, 2001 in Moscow and surrounding cities of Russia. The roster announcement was made by U.S. National Junior Team Head Coach Keith Allain, USA Hockey International Council Chairman Ron DeGregorio and USA Hockey Executive Director Doug Palazzari.

"I'm very excited with the speed and skill level of this team," said Allain. "We will be able to play an up-tempo game. I'm also thrilled about the character and mental toughness of our players. Those are essential traits in a tournament of this nature."

This year's roster includes 14 National Hockey League draftees and seven returning players from the 2000 team. Of the 14 NHL draftees, four were selected in the first round, including current Fighting Sioux defenseman David Hale - the 22nd selection of the New Jersey Devils - and current Golden Gopher Jeff Taffe - the 30th overall pick via the St. Louis Blues. Taffe led the U.S. team in scoring at the 2000 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden with one goal, four assists and five points, helping them to fourth place with a 2-3-2 record.

The 2001 U.S. National Junior Team will assemble in West Point, N.Y., on Dec. 15 in preparation for the world championship. The squad then travels to Finland for exhibition games on Dec. 19 vs Finland and Dec. 22 against Switzerland before beginning competition at the IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 26 against Kazakhstan.