Casey Mittelstadt and Ryan Lindgren named to US 2018 WJC Preliminary roster

Minnesota freshman forward Casey Mittelstadt and sophomore defenseman Ryan Lindgren are among the 28 players named Monday (December 5, 2017) to the United States' 2018 World Juniors preliminary roster.

Featuring the best players in the world under 20, the 2018 World Juniors take place December 26, 2017-January 5th, 2018 in Buffalo, New York.

Before the tournament, the US roster will meet for a training camp December 15-19 in Columbus, Ohio. Afterwards there will be an additional camp in Jamestown, New York where the Americans will play pre-tournament games against Belarus (December 20) and Sweden (December 22 in Erie, PA).

Both Gophers are expected to make the 2018 US World Junior team, which will once again be coached by St. Cloud State head coach Bob Motzko. If that's the case, Mittelstadt and Lindgren will miss the December 29-30 series against Army.

Lindgren, one of two returning defensemen from the 2017 gold medal-winning US team, has four points (2G-2A) in 18 games this season with Minnesota. The 19 year-old is a 2016 second round draft pick of the Boston Bruins.

Mittelstadt, picked eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres this past June, has 15 points (5G-10A) in 17 games for the Gophers.

Lindgren and Mittelstadt were each invited to the US World Junior Summer Showcase along with freshman defenseman Nate Knoepke, who did not make the roster.

The 28 players include 10 Minnesotans. They are comprised of 15 forwards, 10 defensemen and 3 goaltenders. All teams need to get down to 23 players for the WJC, which likely would consist of 13 forwards and 7 defensemen.