The Maple Leafs 2016 draft pick, and returning Team USA goalie is officially a member of the team for the 2018 World Junior Championships. As expected, Joseph Woll joins Jake Oettinger in a contest for the number one spot that might take most of the tournament to decide. Joining them in the role Woll filled last year is Jeremy Swayman, a late arrival on the goalie scene for the US team, as he was not at the Summer Showcase.

The full roster is:

Goalies

30 Jake Oettinger Lakeville, Minn. Boston University
1 Jeremy Swayman Anchorage, Alaska University of Maine
31 Joseph Woll St. Louis, Mo. Boston College

Defenders

24 Mikey Anderson Roseville, Minn. University of Minnesota Duluth
8 Adam Fox Jericho, N.Y. Harvard University
6 Quinn Hughes Orlando, Fla. University of Michigan
5 Ryan Lindgren Minneapolis, Minn. University of Minnesota
20 Andrew Peeke Parkland, Fla. University of Notre Dame
15 Scott Perunovich Hibbing, Minn. University of Minnesota Duluth
12 Dylan Samberg Hermantown, Minn. University of Minnesota Duluth

Forwards

13 Joey Anderson Roseville, Minn. University of Minnesota Duluth
23 Kieffer Bellows Edina, Minn. Boston University
22 Logan Brown St. Louis, Mo. Windsor Spitfires
34 Trent Frederic St. Louis, Mo. University of Wisconsin
21 Patrick Harper New Canaan, Conn. Boston University
49 Max Jones Rochester, Mich. London Knights
10 Will Lockwood Bloomfield Hills, Mich. University of Michigan
11 Casey Mittelstadt Eden Prairie, Minn. University of Minnesota
9 Josh Norris Oxford, Mich. University of Michigan
4 Ryan Poehling Lakeville, Minn. St. Cloud State University
7 Brady Tkachuk St. Louis, Mo. Boston University
27 Riley Tufte Ham Lake, Minn. University of Minnesota Duluth
17 Kailer Yamamoto Spokane, Wash. Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

The defending champions have a very good team overall, but they likely don’t quite compare to Finland on defence.  Their forward strength is considerable. But the whole package is what matters, and the goalies are part of that package.  They are good, experienced and want to repeat in their home country.

Team USA opens the tournament on Boxing Day in prime time at 8 p.m. against Denmark.

IIHF World Championships