USA Hockey recently wrapped up its WJC development camp, hosting a 3 team mini-tournament in Lake Placid, NY. Ottawa Senators 2011 first round draft picks Stefan Noeson and Mika Zibanejad suited up for their respective USA and Sweden. Shane Prince (2011 2nd round pick) also participated in camp and showed very well for himself. Also playing for the Tre Kroner was Senators 5th round pick Fredrick Claesson.
The USA camp opened with a roster of 44 players split into two squads, a blue and a white team. Each team played 3 “exhibition” games (twice with each other, then one against either Sweden or Finland). Then USA Hockey trimmed the roster down to 29 players who would continue on in the tournament while 15 players got sent home. Noesen scored 4 assists in 3 games for his Team Blue, and managed to make it past the trim-down phase to make Team USA , as did Prince who contributed three assists in 3 games. Meanwhile Toronto Maple Leafs 1st round selection Tyler Biggs was sent home at this phase.
Noesen played in only one of the three games for Team USA as the tournament continued, managing to net a roughing penalty as his only statistical contribution to the team. Prince excelled as a part of the trimmed down Team USA roster, scoring 2 goals and an assist while playing in two of the three games.
Meanwhile, for the Blue and Gold, Zibanejad netted one assist in three games and Claesson was held pointless in his 4 games. Team Sweden emerged victorious in the event, defeating the US 6-4 in the tournament final.
Team Finland was the third country represented, and they sent a very young squad. Only 9 of the 24 players have been selected in the NHL draft, while the other 15 are not eligible until 2012. They only had 1 defenseman on the roster who was drafted. By contrast, Sweden brought 18 drafted players to the event (only 5 who are draft eligible next summer) and the USA had 27 of 29 players on their final roster drafted by NHL teams.
With Mark Stone and Matt Puempel having a shot at Team Canada as well as Prince, Noesen, Zibanejad and Claesson’s appearance and performances in Lake Placid, it is very likely that the Senators could have a number of representatives in Calgary and Edmonton beginning on Boxing Day.
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