Gophers defenseman Ryan Collins is one of five Minnesota natives among 29 players invited to the U.S. Junior National Team camp. Collins was a member of last year's team.
The 23 players competing in the World Championships Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Helsinki will be chosen after camps in Boston (Dec. 14-18) and Finland (Dec. 19-24).
Minnesotans are forwards Kieffer Bellows (Edina), Paul Bittner (Crookston) and Brock Boeser (Burnsville); and defensemen Will Borgen (Moorhead) and Collins (Bloomington).
Bellows plays for the U.S. Development Team, Bittner for Portland of the Western Hockey League, Boeser for North Dakota and Borgen for St. Cloud State.
The team's roster is here.
Seven camp invitees were on last year's junior team, including Collins; forwards Auston Matthews and Sonny Milano; defensemen Brandon Carlo and Zach Werenski; and goalies Brandon Halverson and Alex Nedeljkovic.
Wild prospect Louie Belpedio, who plays at Miami University, was also invited.
