COLORADO SPRINGS, USA – USA Hockey announced on Thursday the 22 members of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Canada.

Among those on the U.S. roster are seven returning players from last year’s bronze medal-winning team, including goaltender Jack Campbell (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds); defencemen Derek Forbort (Univ. of North Dakota) and Jon Merrill (Univ. of Michigan); and forwards Nick Bjugstad (Univ. of Minnesota), Charlie Coyle (Boston Univ.), Emerson Etem (Medicine Hat Tigers) and Jason Zucker (Univ. of Denver).

Both Campbell and Zucker were also members of the gold medal-winning 2010 U.S. National Junior Team.

“Every year this decision seems to get harder,” said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “The number of talented players from which we get to form a team says a lot about hockey's growth in the United States as a whole.”

“Having been behind the bench when we won the gold medal two years ago, I can't wait to get started again,” said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. “This is an incredible group of players whose speed and tenacity should help us succeed in Edmonton and Calgary.”

The U.S. will look to earn its third straight medal after capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, and the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon.

The U.S. National Junior Team is currently in the midst of a pre-tournament camp taking place in Alberta, Canada. Team USA has already taken part in two pre-tournament games, and will play its final pre-tournament contest tomorrow (Dec. 23) against Slovakia in Three Hills.

U.S. Roster for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship

Goalkeepers:
Jack Campbell, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
John Gibson, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Andy Iles, Cornell Univ. (ECACH)

Defencemen:
Adam Clendening, Boston Univ. (HEA)
Derek Forbort, Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA)
Kevin Gravel, St. Cloud State Univ. (WCHA)
Stephen Johns, Univ. of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Jon Merrill, Univ. of Michigan (CCHA)
Jarred Tinordi, London Knights (OHL)
Jacob Trouba, U.S. NTDP U-18 (USHL)

Forwards:
Josh Archibald, Univ. of Nebraska Omaha (WCHA)
Bill Arnold, Boston College (HEA)
Nick Bjugstad, Univ. of Minnesota (WCHA)
Connor Brickley, Univ. of Vermont (HEA)
Charlie Coyle, Boston Univ. (HEA)
Austin Czarnik, Miami Univ. (CCHA)
Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
J.T. Miller, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Kyle Rau, Univ. of Minnesota (WCHA)
Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
T.J. Tynan, Univ. of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Austin Watson, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Jason Zucker, Univ. of Denver (WCHA)