Latest:

MiHockey

Your Hockey – Our Hockey – MiHockey

Amateur Hockey Editor's picks HPHL Juniors Slideshow Tier 1 Youth Hockey 

International tournament recaps

MiHockey Staff

By Nick Barnowski –

With the international tournaments complete, here is a look at how the three major US teams, and their Michigan representatives, performed.

Men’s U20

Team USA’s Men’s U20 team didn’t quite live up to the tremendous expectations placed upon them at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The Americans were not able to make the medal round for the first time since the tournament switched to a round robin style, finishing seventh. Team USA was able to avoid relegation with wins over Latvia (12-2) and Switzerland (2-1).

Michigan natives:

  • Jack Campbell – Port Huron (Soo Greyhounds): Campbell did not enjoy as much success as he had in his previous two U20 tournaments, but the first-round draft pick of the Dallas Stars had a 3-2 record with a 2.62 GAA.
  • Jon Merrill – Brighton (University of Michigan): Playing in his first games of the season with Team USA, the University of Michigan defenseman had a solid tournament. He was a plus-five and had four points for the Americans. Merrill still appears to be on track to become a highly rated NHL prospect.
  • Kevin Gravel – Kingsford (St. Cloud State University): Gravel’s size was useful on Team USA after Seth Jones went down with an injury. Gravel adapted well to all situations thrown at him and was plus-two with a game-winning goal, scored on his only shot of the tournament.
  • Jacob Trouba – Rochester (National Team Development Program): Despite being the youngest player on Team USA, Trouba was one of the team’s best players in Alberta. He was one of the most physical members of Team USA and likely solidified his spot in the top 10 in the NHL Entry Draft. The 17-year-old had two assists and was even for the tournament.
  • Austin Czarnik – Washington (Miami University): Czarnik, an underdog to even make the U20 squad, wound up being one of Team USA’s three best players throughout the tournament. He brought energy to the offense and exceeded expectations. He finished with two goals and two assists.
  • Austin Watson – Ann Arbor (Peterborough Petes): Watson led Team USA in points with three goals and six assists, and also was second in plus-minus at plus-six. He tied the American record for points in a single game with seven against Latvia.

Women’s U18

The U.S. National Women’s U18 team made it all the way to the gold medal game before losing to Canada at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. It was their only loss in the tournament, in which they had scored 35 goals and only gave up five. Four dominating wins came at the expense of Russia (8-0), Sweden (7-0), Czech Republic (13-1), and Germany (7-1) in the semifinals. Team USA was able to out-shoot Canada 28-16 in the final, but lost 3-0.

Michigan natives:

  • Demi Crossman – Livonia (Honeybaked): In Crossman’s five games during the tournament, she notched one assist with 10 shots on goal. She also was a plus-two.
  • MaryAnne Menefee – Lansing (Little Caesars): Menefee, a Little Caesars standout who will be attending the University of Minnesota in the fall, was third on Team USA in points, with two goals and seven assists. She was plus-12 for the tournament and fired 14 shots on goal.
  • Jordan Hampton (New Hampshire native who has played for Little Caesars): Solid on the blue line, the Northeastern University commit was plus-three with one assist for the tournament.

Men’s U17

Like the Women’s U18 team, the U.S. Men’s U17 team reached the goal medal game and skated away with the silver at the World U17 Challenge, which was held in Windsor, Ontario. Team USA had a 4-2 record in the tournament, with the only two losses coming to Team Russia. Playing a tough schedule with six games in seven days, Team USA managed to beat the Czech Republic, Canada-West, Canada-Pacific, and Sweden en route to the gold medal game. Russia defeated them 7-4 on Jan. 4.

Michigan natives:

  • Michael Downing – Canton (Detroit Catholic Central): Downing, a defenseman, registered one assist for Team USA. He has verbally committed to the University of Michigan.
  • Trevor Hamilton – Grosse Pte. Farms (Honeybaked Midget Minor): Hamilton, another defenseman committed to play at Miami University, was held off the score sheet during the tournament. He had two penalty minutes.
  • Evan Allen – Sterling Heights (Honeybaked Midget Minor): Another U of M verbal commit, Allen was among the tournament’s leading scorers with six points (five goals, one assist) in five games for the Americans.
  • Dawson Cook – Cadillac (Cadillac High School): A forward, Cook picked up two assists in the tournament to go along with 4 PIMs. Cook is committed to the University of Notre Dame.
  • Michael McCarron – Macomb (Honeybaked Midget Major): McCarron, who is verbally committed to Michigan State University, picked up a goal and an assist while in Windsor. McCarron was by far the biggest player on the team, coming in at 6-5, 220 pounds.
  • Tyler Motte – St. Clair (Honeybaked Midget Minor): Continuing the Honeybaked theme, Motte, another U of M commit, had an assist and six penalty minutes for Team USA. Motte is one of the leading goal-scorers on a loaded Honeybaked team out of Detroit.