The camp, which includes 16 forwards, 10 defensemen and four goalies, runs Monday through Wednesday and is the initial step in naming the team that will represent the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The morning and afternoon sessions focused primarily on chemistry, line rushes and specialty teams.
“I think every day is kind of trying to find some chemistry with lines,” Beniers said. “I was pretty lucky that I was with Brett Berard (New York Rangers) today. We’ve been playing together our whole lives, so it’s not too hard to find chemistry there because that’s kind of always been there for me and him.
“I think these first couple of days are kind of for getting the systems down, figuring out the penalty kill and power play. That’s kind of the main focus of these practices; getting some good work in and then finding some chemistry with some lines is I’d say an extra benefit.”
The tournament is scheduled to be played from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta.
The 25-player roster is expected to be named Wednesday, and the team will then travel to Edmonton, quarantine for 48 hours before continuing training. It will play two exhibition games against the Czech Republic at Gary W. Harris Centre in Red Deer on Dec. 20 and Finland at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Dec. 22.
The United States will try to win the tournament back to back for the first time after defeating Canada 2-0 in the 2021 championship game. Canada was the last team to do so, winning five straight from 2005-09.
Here are three other things learned at selection camp Monday:
Defining the leadership group
The leadership group, including the captain and alternates, will likely be named while the team is training in Edmonton, but returning defenseman Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators) already has some ideas.
“I feel like everybody kind of leads in their own way,” Sanderson said. “But if I had to choose a couple guys, Matty Beniers … he’s not the most vocal guy, but just how he goes about his day, and leads by example with how hard he works.
“Defenseman Brock Faber (Los Angeles Kings) and forward Landon Slaggert (Chicago Blackhawks) also continually do the right things. I think other guys look up to that.”
Sanderson is also in the leadership mix. The No. 5 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft missed games Friday and Saturday with the University of North Dakota with an undisclosed injury but said he is fine.
“No, there’s no concern,” he said. “I was just doing some maintenance on my body, that’s all.”
Hughes ready for any role
Luke Hughes, the No. 4 pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 draft, has become a versatile force on defense the past two seasons. A left-handed shot, the 18-year-old can play on either the left or right side, which he did for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2020-21 and as a freshman this season at the University of Michigan.
“Being able to play both sides is just something in my tool box that I think can help,” Hughes said. “I’ve gotten pretty comfortable there, so the coaches can put me wherever they want to put me; whatever is good for the team.”
Hughes was paired with right-handed shot Faber, a defenseman with the University of Minnesota, during the afternoon session.
“He’s a really good player, super steady,” Hughes said of Faber. “He makes really good decisions with the puck.”
Peart given a chance
Jack Peart, a defenseman taken in the second round (No. 54) by the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 draft, was a late invite to selection camp after forward Thomas Bordeleau (San Jose Sharks) and defenseman Sean Behrens (Colorado Avalanche) were released Sunday.
Peart has scored 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 12 games as a freshman at St. Cloud State University this season.
Bordeleau, a sophomore center at the University of Michigan, was in a similar situation prior to the 2021 WJC when he was set to represent the United States at the tournament; however, he was left off after his roommate at the selection camp tested positive for COVID-19.
“It’s really tough,” said Beniers, a sophomore at Michigan. “We’re all going to miss him. He kind of caught COVID at a time when me and (Michigan teammate) Jacob Truscott were away from the team. He was going to be a really huge part of this team, so that’s why it’s such a tough hit. I’m not totally sure if there’s anyone that can really fill his boots.
“So some guys are going to have to step up; that’s going to be an important part of this.”
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