1999 IIHF World Junior Championship

NAME POS CLUB BORN HT. WT. NHL STATUS
Joe Blackburn G Michigan State 26/01/79 5'10 179 Eligible 1999
Chris Madden G Guelph Storm 10/03/79 6'0 167 Carolina
Phillipe Sauve G L'Oceanic deRimouski 27/07/80 6'0 175 Colorado
Andrew Hutchinson D Michigan State 24/03/80 6'2 186 Eligible 1999 draft
Doug Janik D Maine 26/03/80 6'1 198 Eligible 1999 draft
Jeff Jillson D Michigan 24/07/80 6'3 219 Eligible 1999 draft
Jordan Leopold D Minnisota 03/08/80 6'1 193 Eligible 1999 draft
Paul Mara D Plymouth Whalers 07/09/79 6'3 190 Tampa Bay
Chris St. Croix D Kamloops Blazers 02/05/79 6'2 185 Calgary
Dave Tanabe D Wisconsin 18/07/80 6'1 190 Eligible 1999 draft
Nikos Tselios D Plymouth Whalers 20/01/79 6'3 187 Carolina
Dan Carlson F Notre Dame 06/04/79 5'9 189 Eligible 1999 draft
Kevin Colley F Oshawa Generals 04/01/79 5'10 173 Eligible 1999 draft
Tim Connolly F Erie Otters 07/05/81 6'0 185 Eligible 1999 draft
Matt Doman F Wisconsin 10/02/80 6'0 218 Eligible 1999 draft
Brian Gionta F Boston College 18/01/79 5'5 160 New Jersey
Scott Gomez F Tri-Cities Americans 23/12/79 5'10 180 New Jersey
Adam Hall F Michigan State 14/08/80 6'2 200 Eligible 1999 draft
Barrett Heinsten F Maine 19/03/80 6'0 185 Eligible 1999 draft
Andy Hilbert F National U-18 Team 06/02/81 5'11 191 Eligible 1999 draft
David Inman F Notre Dame 13/06/80 6'1 180 Eligible 1999 draft
David Legwand F Plymouth Whalers 17/08/80 6'2 175 Nashville
Justin Morrison F Colorado College 10/08/79 6'3 200 Vancouver
Ryan Murphy F Bowling Green 21/03/79 6'1 192 Eligible 1999 draft
Mike Pandolfo F Boston University 15/09/79 6'3 226 Buffalo
Mike Vigilante F Lake Superior 19/08/79 5'10 192 Eligible 1999 draft

STAFF/PERSONNEL

Head Coach: Jeff Jackson

Two years ago, at the 1997 World Junior Hockey Championship in Geneva, Switzerland, Team USA had its best-ever result--a silver medal.

They weren't satisfied. Team USA head coach Jeff Jackson thought his team had outplayed Canada in the gold-medal final, only to be denied by goaltender Marc Denis.

The Americans enter the 1999 World Junior Hockey Championship loaded with high-end talent. The biggest talent could be centre David Legwand, the second pick overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, who started the 1998-99 season with the expansion Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. As a rookie in the Ontario Hockey League with the Plymouth Whalers last season, Legwand was named the OHL's Most Valuable Player. He became the second American-born player (the first was Pat Peake in 1993) to win that award and was the first rookie to earn that honor since Jack Valiquette was MVP in 1973-74.

Legwand played for Team USA at the 1998 World Junior Hockey Championship as a 17-year-old and probably would be a major force if he were to participate this year.
Another skilled centre for Team USA is Scott Gomez, who was named to the Western Hockey League's All-Rookie Team for 1997-98, and also played for Team USA at the 1998 World Junior Championship.

Anchoring a strong defence will be Paul Mara, a 6-foot-4, 202-pound presence who handles the puck with flair, is a strong skater and has an excellent shot from the point. Mara is known for his exceptional conditioning and, like most wheelhorse defenceman, he logs oodles of ice time.

Another headliner on defence for Team USA is Nikos Tselios, a cousin of NHL All-Star defenceman Chris Chelios. Unlike his feisty cousin, Tselios relies more on finesse than on brute force. He is an effective point man on the power play, with a good shot and superb hockey instincts.

Team USA figures to be a contender at the 1999 World Hockey Championship.