Rangers Prospects Chris Kreider, Ryan Borque on Final Team USA WJC Roster

Ryan Bourque, Kyle Palmieri and Jeremy Morin are back to defend their title.

This morning USA hockey announced their final roster for the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships and two New York Rangers prospects were among the final players.  2009 1^st round pick and 2009 3^rd round pick Ryan Bourque have both made the team as expected.  In addition to Kreider and Bourque who were on last year’s Gold medal team Jerry D'Amigo (Toronto), Jason Zucker (Minnesota), Jeremy Morin (Chicago), Kyle Palmieri (Anaheim), John Ramage (Calgary), Jack Campbell (Dallas) will also be returning looking for repeat gold.  The full roster for the club can be found here.

The captains for the team were not announced this morning, but it is expected that Ryan Bourque will wear a letter for this club and possibly even the ‘C’.  

Speaking of leadership in talking with TSN Chris Kreider had this quote:

A big part of why we won last year was just how strong our leadership was and the core of older players that we have. I think that our returning players are trying to take it upon themselves to lead the way and set the culture that we had last year.

If this team can come close to the leadership provided by Derek Stepan and John Carlson last year, then they will be right there when all is said and done January 5.

The team begins the tournament as one of the heavy favorites to win it and their favorable preliminary bracket should help them to gain confidence and have a high seed going into the elimination round.  Team USA opens play Sunday December 26^th against possibly the toughest competition in the group, Finland, at 8pm on NHL Network US.  

Be sure to check out The Prospect Park's preview of the tournament including his predictions on group stages, when the US and Canadians will face off and who will win the whole thing.