2014 IIHF World Junior Championship: Nic Kerdiles expected to play key role

One year after being left off the roster, Wisconsin sophomore Nic Kerdiles has fully entrenched himself as an integral part of Team USA's quest for gold at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships in Malmo, Sweden.

Due in large part to his NCAA-mandated 10-game suspension last season, Kerdiles was left home when the U.S. captured a gold medal in Russia, a team captained by Wisconsin defenseman Jake McCabe. USA Hockey management didn't feel Kerdiles had enough game action leading up to the tournament, unfortunate, especially considering Kerdiles' pedigree as one of the top 1994-born forwards in the world.

This season is different, however. Kerdiles is paired up with Boston University center Danny O'Regan and Miami winger Riley Barber on USA's top forward line. While the team still has one more forward cut before they finalize the roster, it most certainly will not be Kerdiles.

A native of Irvine, Calif., Kerdiles' game has continued to grow during his time in Madison. The Sophomore center currently leads the Badgers in scoring this season with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 14 games. Kerdiles has been especially good of late, notching nine points in his last five games, which includes four multi-point games.

No stranger to a U.S. uniform, Kerdiles spent two seasons at the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., before coming to Wisconsin to play for the Badgers. During his time at the program, Kerdiles won two gold medals at the U-18 World Championships. After being left home last year, this is Kerdiles' final go-round to win gold at the most prestigious junior tournament in the world.

"It's my last chance so I want to make this team and want to help this team achieve a gold medal, which is what we've set out to do," Kerdiles told SB Nation last week.

The IIHF U-20 World Junior Championships have become appointment television for Wisconsin hockey fans. Since 1978, 48 Badgers have donned the colors of their home countries at the tournament. Kerdiles will become No. 49 when he puts on the red, white and blue sweater Thursday as the U.S. opens the tournament vs. the Czech Republic.

"I'm going to enjoy the spotlight of playing in a tournament on TV and having all my family and friends able to watch," Kerdiles said. "It's going to be a fun time."

This year all Team USA games will be broadcast on the NHL Network and also streamed online at NHL.com.

2014 IIHF World Junior Championship TV Schedule

Wisconsin Badgers to play in the WJC

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