Wisconsin men’s hockey: four players selected for 2020 World Junior Summer Showcase

The Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team will have four representatives at the 2020 World Junior Summer Showcase that will take place from July 24-Aug. 1 in Plymouth, Mich. This camp will help the coaching staff evaluate candidates for the the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship set for Dec. 26, 2020, through Jan. 5, 2021, in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

The four players are forward Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.) who recently signed a professional contract with the Los Angeles Kings, sophomore forward Cole Caufield (Stevens Point), sophomore forward Owen Lindmark (Naperville, Ill.) and incoming freshman forward Sam Stange (Eau Claire). Turcotte, Caufield and Lindmark have been invited to the camp before while this is Stange’s first time.

Stange was the Wisconsin state player of the year in both hockey and baseball in 2019 and most recently was tied for the fourth leading scorer in the USHL with 26 goals. He also had 19 assists and averaged 0.94 points per game for Sioux Falls and Sioux City.

Caufield, a top draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, made the decision to return to Madison for his sophomore year despite being named the B1G Freshman of the Year and leading the conference in goals, with 19.

“We’re thankful to everyone involved in all the planning that has happened to date and continues to take place,” said Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey and chair of the organization’s International Council. “As hockey returns, we look forward to hosting our camp and we’ll certainly do it safely.”

UW men’s hockey equipment manager Nate LaPoint will be part of the equipment staff for the team as well.