Kerdiles, McCabe Invited To USA National Junior Evaluation Camp

Wisconsin sophomore Jake McCabe and freshman Nic Kerdiles are experienced gold medal winners on the international level. Both helped the United States to gold at the 2011 U18 World Championships. Kerdiles was also the focal point of the team just a few months ago who took home another gold for the red, white, and blue at the 2012 U18 World Championships.

On Monday USA Hockey released the roster of 46 players who have been invited to Lake Placid, NY in August for the National Junior Evaluation Camp. Now both Kerdiles and McCabe are going to have an opportunity to earn a spot to represent their country at the U20 level.

The camp is used as one of the primary evaluation tools to select the roster that USA Hockey will send to Russia for the World Juniors. Players will also be evaluated throughout the first half of the season before the club leaves the tournament in late December.

McCabe, a defenseman from Eau Claire had a big freshman season for the Badgers. The mobile blue-liner registered 12 points in 26 games and was a member of the teams number one power play unit while also playing top four minutes for the Badgers.

Kerdiles comes to Madison after a huge season with the USA National U18 team. The forward from Irvine, California led the U18 team in scoring last season. Kerdiles saved his best for last, recording five points in the gold medal game of the U18 World Championships vs Sweden.

The 2013 USA World Junior team will be coached by the legendary Phil Housley. He is set to be assisted by former Badger player and coach Mark Osiecki, as well as Minnesota assistant Grant Potulny.

Former Badger Jim Johannson who is the assistant executive director for hockey operations at USA Hockey will serve as the General Manager for the 2013 U.S. National Junior Team.

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