World Junior Hockey Roster 2017: Kieffer Bellows makes Team USA

The United States national junior team announced its final 23-man roster for the beginning of the 2017 World Junior Hockey championship tournament set to begin in Toronto after Christmas.

Kieffer Bellows, the New York Islanders wing prospect selected 19th overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft, is on the squad.

Bellows had an up-and-down start to his college career at Boston University, where he has four goals, two assists and 34 PIM in 15 games. But he has a history with the U.S. program, starring on the U-18 team entry in the USHL in 2015-16.

His Boston U. teammate Chad Krys, a defenseman prospect whose NHL rights are held by the Chicago Blackhawks, was the final cut.

Tage Thompson, son of Islanders’ AHL coach Brent Thompson and a fellow first-round pick last summer, is also on the team.

The U.S. will open their Group B schedule Monday at 3:30 p.m. EST against Latvia in Toronto on Monday, which like all the U.S. games will be televised on NHL Network in the United States. That one’s a must-win: The other combatants in Group B are Slovakia (Wednesday), Russia (Thursday), and Canada (Saturday).

Team USA IIHF World Juniors 2017 Roster

Here’s the full 23-man roster with their leagues and draft rights per nhl.com. Twenty-one have already been drafted — seven of them first-rounders — with the other two expected to be selected in next summer’s draft:

Goalies

Jake Oettinger, Boston University, H-EAST (2017 draft eligible);
Tyler Parsons, London, OHL (Calgary Flames);
Joseph Woll, Boston College, H-EAST (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Defensemen

Jack Ahcan, St. Cloud State, NCHC (2017 draft eligible);
Joseph Cecconi, Michigan, BIG10 (Dallas Stars);
Casey Fitzgerald, Boston College, H-EAST (Buffalo Sabres);
Adam Fox, Harvard, ECAC (Calgary Flames);
Caleb Jones, Portland, WHL (Edmonton Oilers);
Ryan Lindgren, Minnesota, BIG10, (Boston Bruins);
Charlie McAvoy, Boston University, H-EAST (Boston Bruins)

Forwards

Joseph Anderson, Minnesota-Duluth, NCHC (New Jersey Devils);
Kieffer Bellows, Boston University, H-EAST (New York Islanders);
Jeremy Bracco, Kitchener, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs);
Erik Foley, Providence, H-EAST (Winnipeg Jets);
Jordan Greenway, Boston University, H-EAST (Minnesota Wild);
Patrick Harper, Boston University, H-EAST (Nashville Predators);
Clayton Keller, Boston University, H-EAST (Arizona Coyotes);
Luke Kunin, Wisconsin, BIG10 (Minnesota Wild);
Tanner Laczynski, Ohio State, BIG10 (Philadelphia Flyers);
Jack Roslovic, Manitoba, AHL (Winnipeg Jets);
Troy Terry, Denver, NCHC (Anaheim Ducks);
Tage Thompson, Connecticut, H-EAST (St. Louis Blues);
Colin White, Boston College, H-EAST (Ottawa Senators)