Give USA Hockey credit -- it knows how to make a splash.
After making Auston Matthews the first and only player named to the 2016 World Championships roster back in March, the organization generated more headlines on Tuesday by selecting Kyle Connor, J.T. Compher and Tyler Motte -- the trio that formed the wildly productive “CCM” line at the University of Michigan this season.
Connor, who signed his entry-level deal with Winnipeg yesterday, led the nation in scoring as a freshman with a whopping 71 points in 38 games. Compher finished second with 63 points, and Motte -- who also went pro, signing with Chicago -- finished fourth, with 56.
Those three, along with Matthews, will almost certainly raise interest in the America entry at this year’s tournament. The U.S. also kept its youth movement going by naming Carolina rookie d-man Noah Hanifin to the roster -- Hanifin, the fifth overall pick at the 2015 draft, scored 22 points in 79 games this year, and impressive feat given he only turned 19 in January.
For the rest of the players named to the U.S. roster today, click here.