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Photo by: Jim Rosvold/University of Minnes
Four Gophers Invited to 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase
6/20/2019 10:16:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – Four Gopher Hockey players will represent the University of Minnesota, as well as their respective countries, at the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase next month (July 26-Aug. 3) at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.
USA Hockey announced its invitee list for the event on Thursday with returning sophomore forward Blake McLaughlin and incoming freshmen Jackson LaCombe and Ryan Johnson making appearances while returning sophomore forward Sampo Ranta was named to Finland's invite list earlier this week.
The 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase, featuring the United States, Finland, Canada and Sweden, serves as an audition for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, which runs from Dec. 26, 2019 through Jan. 5, 2020 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., McLaughlin played in 35 games for the Maroon & Gold as a freshman during the 2018-19 campaign. The forward, who has previously skated for USA Hockey at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge and the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, notched 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in his first season with Minnesota. McLaughlin was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (79th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta skated in 36 games as a freshman for the Gophers during the 2018-19 season, recording 16 points (six goals, 10 assists). The forward, who previously captured a gold medal with Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, was selected in the third round (78th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
A native of Irvine, Calif., Johnson closed out his junior career by helping the Sioux Falls Stampede capture the 2019 USHL Clark Cup and earning 2018-19 USHL All-Rookie Team honors. The defenseman added a gold medal with the U.S. Junior Select Team at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. Johnson was selected in the first round (31st overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the 21st University of Minnesota prospect taken in the first round.
A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., LaCombe joins the Gophers ahead of the 2019-20 season after spending four seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary's. The defenseman, who earned All-USA Boys Hockey First Team honors and also skated with the Chicago Steel during the 2018-19 season, set a Shattuck-St. Mary's record for points by a defenseman with 89 last year. LaCombe was selected in the second round (39th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, becoming the highest Gopher Hockey prospect ever taken by the organization.
USA Hockey announced its invitee list for the event on Thursday with returning sophomore forward Blake McLaughlin and incoming freshmen Jackson LaCombe and Ryan Johnson making appearances while returning sophomore forward Sampo Ranta was named to Finland's invite list earlier this week.
The 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase, featuring the United States, Finland, Canada and Sweden, serves as an audition for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, which runs from Dec. 26, 2019 through Jan. 5, 2020 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., McLaughlin played in 35 games for the Maroon & Gold as a freshman during the 2018-19 campaign. The forward, who has previously skated for USA Hockey at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge and the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, notched 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in his first season with Minnesota. McLaughlin was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (79th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta skated in 36 games as a freshman for the Gophers during the 2018-19 season, recording 16 points (six goals, 10 assists). The forward, who previously captured a gold medal with Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, was selected in the third round (78th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
A native of Irvine, Calif., Johnson closed out his junior career by helping the Sioux Falls Stampede capture the 2019 USHL Clark Cup and earning 2018-19 USHL All-Rookie Team honors. The defenseman added a gold medal with the U.S. Junior Select Team at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. Johnson was selected in the first round (31st overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the 21st University of Minnesota prospect taken in the first round.
A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., LaCombe joins the Gophers ahead of the 2019-20 season after spending four seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary's. The defenseman, who earned All-USA Boys Hockey First Team honors and also skated with the Chicago Steel during the 2018-19 season, set a Shattuck-St. Mary's record for points by a defenseman with 89 last year. LaCombe was selected in the second round (39th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, becoming the highest Gopher Hockey prospect ever taken by the organization.
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