Gophers Fasching, Collins among three Minnesotans selected to U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster

Gophers sophomore forward Hudson Fasching and freshman defenseman Ryan Collins were named to the U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster on Tuesday morning.

The pair is among 30 players selected to attend USA Hockey's training camp for the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Canada. The camp will be held Dec. 16-19 in Boston where the roster will be trimmed to 23 players.

Fasching is one of seven invitees that played for the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team coached by Gophers coach Don Lucia. Collins is one of nine players on the roster that won the 2014 IIHF U-18 Men's World Championship. Both Fasching and Collins are products of the U.S. National Developmental Team Program.

Collins leads the Gophers' freshmen with four assists and Fasching has seven points (five goals, two assists) this season. Fasching scored two goals and two assists in five games for the U.S. Junior National Team last year in Sweden.

Wisconsin freshman defenseman Jack Dougherty (Cottage Grove) is the only other Minnesotan on the roster. Shattuck-St. Mary's product Ian McCoshen, who is listed from Hudson, Wis., is also among the select group. Gophers Taylor Cammarata, Michael Brodzinski and Vinni Lettieri were cut from the summer evaluation camp.

Gophers Swedish freshman forward Leon Bristedt is a likely candidate for the Sweden National Junior Team.

Twenty current or future college hockey players are represented on the roster led by Boston College's five current players and two committed recruits. The Big Ten leads all conferences with eight skaters invited to camp, five from Michigan.

The team will be coached by Burnsville native and former Ohio State coach Mark Osiecki.

Complete roster and schedule.