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Minnesotans Dot U.S. Men’s National Team Orientation Camp Roster

Ice Hockey - Men's Gold Medal Game - Day 17
Cloquet's Jamie Langenbrunner and Bloomington's Zach Parise celebrate a USA goal vs. Canada in 2010.

USA Hockey this afternoon released its roster of players invited to participate in its Men’s National Team Orientation Camp later this summer and those with Minnesota connections are well-represented. Of the 48 players chosen, 14 are Minnesotans while two others have strong ties to the state and the Minnesota Wild are represented twice.

By position, the Minnesotans are:

Defense (7) – Dustin Byfuglien, Roseau, Winnipeg Jets (NHL); Justin Faulk, South St. Paul, Carolina Hurricanes (NHL); Jake Gardiner, Minnetonka, Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL); Erik Johnson, Bloomington, Colorado Avalanche (NHL); Nick Leddy, Eden Prairie, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL); Paul Martin, Elk River, Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL); Ryan McDonagh, St. Paul, New York Rangers (NHL).

Forwards (7) – David Backes, Spring Lake Park, St. Louis Blues (NHL); Nick Bjugstad, Blaine, Florida Panthers (NHL); Kyle Okposo, St. Paul, New York Islanders (NHL); T.J. Oshie, Warroad, St. Louis Blues (NHL); Zach Parise, Bloomington, Minnesota Wild (NHL); Derek Stepan, Hastings, New York Rangers (NHL).

In addition, former Gopher Phil Kessel of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Wild defenseman Ryan Suter, to no one’s surprise, were each invited to the camp.

A total of 33 players on the orientation camp roster have played U.S. college hockey including seven former Gophers (Bjugstad, Leddy, Kessel, Okposo, Johnson, Martin, Wheeler), one Minnesota State Maverick (Backes), one Minnesota-Duluth Bulldog (Faulk), two from North Dakota (Parise, Oshie), and four Wisconsin Badgers (Suter, McDonagh, Gardiner, Stepan).

Scheduled for Aug. 26-27 at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, practice facility of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the camp marks the beginning of the audition process for players to earn a spot on the final roster coach Dan Bylsma will lead into the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Those fortunate enough to ultimately make the trip to Sochi for the Feb. 12-23 men’s ice hockey competition will be charged with the task of improving on Team USA’s 2010 silver-medal performance in Vancouver.

According to Parise, in an interview with the StarTribune’s Michael Russo on KFAN radio this morning, players were notified of the news via text message.

The announcement comes on the heels of Friday’s revelation that the National Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation, after weeks of negotiation, had reached an agreement paving the way for NHL players to participate in the Olympics for a fifth straight time. The league will shut down from Feb. 9-26 to allow the world’s best players to compete for the sport’s highest international prize.

Below is USA Hockey’s complete Men’s National Team Orientation Camp roster.

GOALTENDERS

Name

Hometown

Current Team

Craig AndersonPark Ridge, Ill.Ottawa Senators (NHL)
John GibsonPittsburgh, Pa.Norfolk Admirals (AHL)
Jimmy HowardSyracuse, N.Y.Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
Ryan MillerEast Lansing, Mich.Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Jonathan QuickMilford, Conn.Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Cory SchneiderMarblehead, Mass.New Jersey Devils (NHL)

DEFENSEMEN

Name

Hometown

Current Team

Zach BogosianMassena, N.Y.Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Dustin ByfuglienRoseau, Minn.Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
John CarlsonColonia, N.J.Washington Capitals (NHL)
Dan DeKeyserClay Township, Mich.Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
Justin FaulkSouth St. Paul, Minn.Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Cam FowlerFarmington Hills, Mich.Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Jake GardinerMinnetonka, Minn.Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Erik JohnsonBloomington, Minn.Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Jack JohnsonAnn Arbor, Mich.Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Seth JonesPlano, TexasNashville Predators (NHL)
Nick LeddyEden Prairie, Minn.Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Paul MartinMinneapolis, Minn.Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Ryan McDonaghSt. Paul, Minn.New York Rangers (NHL)
Brooks OrpikSan Francisco, Calif.Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Kevin ShattenkirkGreenwich, Conn.St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Ryan SuterMadison, Wis.Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Jacob TroubaRochester, Mich.Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Keith YandleBoston, Mass.Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)

FORWARDS

Name

Hometown

Current Team

Justin AbdelkaderMuskegon, Mich.Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
David BackesMinneapolis, Minn.St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Beau BennettGardena, Calif.Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Nick BjugstadMinneapolis, Minn.Florida Panthers (NHL)
Dustin BrownIthaca, N.Y.Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Ryan CallahanRochester, N.Y.New York Rangers (NHL)
Alex GalchenyukMilwaukee, Wis.Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Patrick KaneBuffalo, N.Y.Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Ryan KeslerLivonia, Mich.Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Phil KesselMadison, Wis.Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Trevor LewisSalt Lake City, UtahLos Angeles Kings (NHL)
Kyle OkposoSt. Paul, Minn.New York Islanders (NHL)
T.J. OshieWarroad, Minn.St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Max PaciorettyNew Canaan, Conn.Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Kyle PalmieriSmithtown, N.Y.Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Zach PariseMinneapolis, Minn.Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Joe PavelskiPlover, Wis.San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Bobby RyanCherry Hills, N.J.Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Brandon SaadGibsonia, Pa.Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Craig SmithMadison, Wis.Nashville Predators (NHL)
Paul StastnySt. Louis, Mo.Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Derek StepanHastings, Minn.New York Rangers (NHL)
James van RiemsdykMiddletown, N.J.Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Blake WheelerRobbinsdale, Minn.Winnipeg Jets (NHL)

Minnesota Hockey Magazine Executive Editor Brian Halverson is a former member of the Minnesota Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. His work has been published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Miami Herald, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Hartford Courant, Dallas Morning News and ESPN.com.

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