Jack Dougherty invited to 2014 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp

Incoming Wisconsin freshman Jack Dougherty was one of 42 players invited to the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp, USA Hockey announced on Wednesday.

The camp, which is set to take place Aug. 2-9 in Lake Placid, New York, is an audition for spots on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2014-Jan. 5, 2015, in Toronto and Montreal.

The camp will be held at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. The U.S. players will practice and compete in international games against Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.

The United States has medaled in three of the last five IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold in 2013 and 2010 and bronze in 2011. Jake McCabe, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres shortly after Wisconsin was eliminated from the NCAA tournament this past spring, was the captain of the 2013 gold medal-winning team.

A defenseman from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Dougherty comes to the Badgers after a year with the U.S. Under-18 team. Dougherty had a phenomenal season that culminated in a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championships in Finland. Dougherty had two goals and two assists in the seven-game tournament, including the opening goal in the gold-medal game.

Dougherty is expected to be selected fairly early in the 2014 NHL Draft that will take place June 27-28 in Philadelphia. The 6'1, 186-pound blue-liner is ranked as the No. 30 North American skater for the draft, which likely means he'll be selected either late in the first round or early in the second.

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