USA Hockey has invited 46 players, including seven Minnesotans, to its National Junior Evaluation Camp in August 4-11 in Lake Placid, N.Y..

The players all hope to be named to the U.S. team for the World Junior Championships Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Ufa, Russia. A final camp will be held Dec. 19-23 in Helsinki, Finland.

Gophers sophomore forward Travis Boyd of Hopkins and incoming freshman 'U' defensemen Brady Skjei of Lakeville and Mike Reilly of Chanhassen are among the candidates for the U.S. team. Skjei played for the under-18 U.S. national team this past season and is expected to be a first round pick in the NHL draft later this month. Reilly played for Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League. The Vees won the Junior A national championship in Canada.

Other Minnesotans who will be in Lake Placid are Andy Welinski of Duluth, an incoming freshman defenseman at UMD; Mario Lucia of Plymouth and Steve Fogarty of Edina, incoming freshman forwards at Notre Dame; and Logan Nelson of Coon Rapids, who plays for Victoria (British Columbia) of the Western Hockey League.

The USA Hockey release has the complete roster.