Team USA wins World Junior A Challenge; five Michigan names help Americans to perfect record

By @MichaelCaples –

For the sixth time in seven years, Team USA captured the title at the World Junior A Challenge.

With a 3-2 overtime win over Denmark, the American squad capped off a perfect 5-0 record in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, with wins over Canada West (pre-tournament) Switzerland and Canada East twice.

The U.S. team – a collection of the top USHL players in the Junior A league – featured five Michigan names:

Dakota Joshua – Dearborn – Sioux Falls Stampede – Ohio State commit
Two assists

Kyle Connor – Shelby Township – Youngstown Phantoms – University of Michigan commit
One goal, one assist

Christian Wolanin – Rochester – Muskegon Lumberjacks – University of North Dakota commit
Four assists, four penalty minutes

Eric Schierhorn – Anchorage, Alaska – Muskegon Lumberjacks – uncommitted
Three wins, .959 save percentage, .97 goals-against average

Mitch Reinke – Stillwater, Minn. – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders – Michigan Tech commit