Six Minnesotans, including Gophers defenseman Ryan Lindgren, are on the preliminary 27-player roster for the U.S. national junior team, which will play in the world championships Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Toronto and Montreal.
The team will be pared to 23 players by Christmas Eve.
Other Minnesotans on the team are Boston University goalie Jake Oettinger (Lakeville); defenseman Jack Ahcan (Savage) of St. Cloud State; and forwards Joey Anderson (Roseville) of UMD, Brock Boeser (Burnsville) of North Dakota and Kieffer Bellows (Edina) of Boston University.
The Wild's first-round draft pick in 2016, Wisconsin center Luke Kunin, is also on the preliminary team. Boston University has seven players on the roster including the Wild's second round pick in 2015, Jordan Greenway.
Bob Motzko of St. Cloud State is the coach.
• The Big Ten suspended Lindgren one game for elbowing Ohio State's Sam McCormick in the closing minutes of the Gophers' 8-3 loss Saturday. Lindgren will have to sit out Friday night's game at Michigan State.
