Three Badgers Named to World Junior Team
December 06, 2006 | Men's Hockey
Wisconsin men's hockey players, Jake Skille, Blake Geoffrion and Jamie McBain were named by the USA Hockey to the 2007 U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey announced today. The squad will compete at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship in Leksand, Sweden and Mora, Sweden, Dec. 26, 2006-Jan. 5, 2007.
The roster is comprised of the best American players under the age of 20.
Skille, a sophomore from Madison, Wis., has scored two goals in five games this season, as he missed 11 games due to injury. Geoffrion, a freshman from Brentwood, Tenn., has one goal and three assists. McBain, out of Faribault, Minn., is second among freshmen and fourth overall in points scored for Wisconsin. McBain has tallied a goal and seven assists so far this season to lead Badger blue liners.
Last year, Skille was the only Badger to skate on the U.S. team. The team finished fourth, falling to Finland in the bronze medal game. Skille scored two goals in the tournament, including one against Norway in the team's first game and one in Team USA's loss to Russia in the semifinals. Both of Skille's goals were on the power play and his goal against Norway was the game-winner.
Two years ago, current UW seniors Jake Dowell and Jeff Likens played on the team. Dowell, Likens and former Badger Ryan Suter played on the Mike Eaves' coached team during 2003-04, when Team USA won its first and only world junior title.
Skille, Geoffrion and McBain are expected to miss the 2006 Badger Hockey Showdown and the UW's road series at Denver on Jan. 5-6.
