Slater Named To USA Hockey World Junior Team
12/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 5, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State freshman center Jim Slater today was named to the United States National Junior Team that will represent the country at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec.25-Jan. 4 in Pardubice and Hradec, Czech Republic.
Slater, the first MSU skater named to the U.S. World Junior Championships team since Adam Hall and John-Michael Liles in 2000, leads the Spartans and ranks 11th in the CCHA in scoring with 6-10--16 in 15 games. He's the conference's top-scoring rookie and ranks fourth nationally among freshmen in scoring.
"It's an honor to represent our country," said Slater, who hails from Lapeer, Mich. "It's a childhood dream and I'm glad it's come true. It's something I look forward to and will never forget."
Meanwhile, fellow freshman defenseman Duncan Keith is one of 36 players invited to Canada's national junior team camp Dec. 10-17 in North York, Ont. The 22-man roster for the World Junior Championship will be announced at the end of the week-long camp.
Keith, who hails from Penticton, B.C., is one of two college players invited to the Team Canada tryout. If selected, Keith would become the first Spartan to don the Canadian sweater at the World Junior Championships since Mike Watt in 1996.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to have a chance to represent my country," said Keith. "It will be good competition. It's an honor to get the chance to play against high-profile guys like (2001 Ottawa Senators' first-round draft pick) Jason Spezza."
The U.S. National Junior Team meets in Ann Arbor, Mich., for a three-day training camp starting Dec. 16 before travelling to Switzerland Dec. 19 for a pair of exhibition games. The U.S. team's first game at the IIHF World Junior Championship is Christmas Day against the host Czech Republic team. The United States, which finished fifth in last year's tournament, is in Group A along with the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Belarus.
Canada also opens championship play on Christmas Day with a game against France. Canada, which earned the bronze medal at last year's World Junior Championship, is in Group B with Finland, France, Switzerland and Russia.
