On Wednesday, USA Hockey announced its preliminary roster for the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver, and Victoria, British Columbia from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.
Five New England natives were named to the preliminary roster that will be trimmed down at a pre-tournament camp in Everett, Washington.
Providence College freshman defenseman Michael Callahan (Franklin, Mass.), Yale sophomore defenseman Phil Kemp (Greenwich, Conn.), U.S. NTDP U-18 goaltender Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.), Providence College freshman center Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.), and Boston College freshman right wing Oliver Wahlstrom (Falmouth, Maine) were the five New England natives to make the preliminary roster.
Callahan has a goal and four assists in 15 games for the Friars so far this season. A former Roxbury Latin and Cape Cod Whalers star, Callahan spent a year in the USHL with Central Illinois Flying Aces and Youngstown Phantoms before matriculating to Providence. He was a fifth round pick, 142nd overall, by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Kemp played two seasons with Brunswick School and two seasons with the NTDP before joining Yale for the 2017-18 season. A seventh round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2017 NHL Draft, Kemp has an assist in nine games with the Bulldogs this season. He’s best known for his size and ability to be a shutdown defender.
Knight was one of two underage players to make the preliminary roster. Eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, the Boston College commit is expected to be picked as early as late in the first round. Knight has a .924 save percentage with the NTDP U-18 team this fall.
O’Brien has missed time this fall with a concussion. The former Thayer center was picked in the first round, 19th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers. O’Brien has hockey sense and compete in all three zones. He skates well and hunts pucks. He has just one goal in nine games played for the Friars. His past performance is why he made the preliminary roster, but his lack of playing time and lack of production this season could be a reason USA Hockey elects to keep him home.
Wahlstrom is similar to O’Brien in that his production hasn’t been what was expected, but he doesn’t have injury as an excuse. The NTDP alum has three goals and an assist in twelve games this season. The 11th overall pick of the New York Islanders in the 2018 NHL Draft, Wahlstrom has a great shot, but his ability to play at pace and be consistent away from the puck, have been issues this season. He’s done little this season to show he belongs on the team, but past success is why he’ll get a chance to prove his worth.
In addition to the five New Englanders to make the preliminary roster, several other prospects with New England ties will participate in the pre-tournament camp. Boston Bruins prospect and Oshawa Generals goaltender Kyle Keyser, Yale freshman defenseman Jack St. Ivany, Boston University freshman right wing Joel Farabee, Boston University sophomore left wing Logan Cockerill, Northeastern sophomore goaltender Cayden Primeau, Northeastern freshman center Tyler Madden and Harvard freshman center Jack Drury all made the preliminary roster.
