Cooper Simpson of Shakopee was one of six Minnesotans named to the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster.Minnesota leads all 12 states represented on roster to compete Aug. 5-10 in Edmonton
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today the 23-player U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team roster that will compete in the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, set for August 5-10 at Rogers Place and Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton, Alberta.
Six Minnesotans were named to the roster, including: Carter Casey (G/Grand Rapids), Jacob Rombach (D, Blaine), Mason Moe (F, Eden Prairie), Cooper Simpson (F, Shakopee), Sam Spehar (F, Chaska), Kade Stengrim (F, Brainerd).
Team USA’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup games will be televised live on NHL Network. The U.S. opens play in the tournament August 5 against Czechia at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The 2024 U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team features 10 players who helped the U.S. to a second-place finish at the 2023 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Chomutov, Czechia, as members of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team. Players hail from 12 different states, including Minnesota (6), New York (4), Illinois (2), Michigan (2), Texas (2), Alaska (1), California (1), Connecticut (1), Massachusetts (1), New Jersey (1), Pennsylvania (1) and Wisconsin (1).
Garrett Raboin (Detroit Lakes, Minn./Augustana University) is the head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team, and is joined by assistant coaches Ben Gordon (International Falls, Minn./University of Minnesota), Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa./USA Hockey), and Nick Oliver(Wannaska, Minn./University of Wisconsin). General manager Marc Boxer (Colorado Springs, Colo./USA Hockey) is joined by player personnel staff Rod Braceful (Detroit, Mich./USA Hockey) and Tony Gasparini (Lakeville, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede). PD Melgoza (Torrance, Calif./University of Alaska Fairbanks) is the team’s video and goalie coach, with athletic trainer Nick Hart (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Lancers) and team physician Jack Nickless (Chicago, Ill.). Jason Smits (Moline, Ill./University of Nebraska Omaha) and Jacob Snuggerud (Chaska, Minn./Augustana University) are the team’s equipment managers.
NOTES: The U.S. will compete alongside Czechia, Finland, and Germany in Group B at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Canada, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland will compete in Group A … Team USA has finished in the top three of the Hlinka tournament 14 times since the tournament began in 1991. The U.S. won the tournament in 2003, has finished second on nine occasions (1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2016) and third four times (1991, 1995, 2014, 2023).
Goaltenders (3)
NO. | NAME | HT (CM) | WT (KG) | BIRTHDATE | S/C | HOMETOWN | MOST RECENT TEAM | COLLEGE COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Ryan Cameron | 6-1 (185) | 174 (79) | 8/21/07 | L | Berwyn, Pa. | Long Island Gulls (NEPACK) | — |
| 1 | Carter Casey | 6-1 (185) | 160 (73) | 12/3/07 | L | Grand Rapids, Minn. | Grand Rapids High School (USHS) | — |
| 30 | Charles Menard | 6-0 (183) | 155 (70) | 10/26/07 | L | Fairbanks, Alaska | Culver Academy (USHS) | — |
Defenseman (7)
NO. | NAME | HT (CM) | WT (KG) | BIRTHDATE | S/C | HOMETOWN | MOST RECENT TEAM | COLLEGE COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Tommy Bleyl | 5-11 (180) | 160 (73) | 12/1/07 | R | Glenville, N.Y. | Albany Academy (TNPHL) | — |
| 12 | Edison Engle | 6-2 (187) | 175 (79) | 2/15/07 | L | Arlington Heights, Ill. | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) | Ohio State University (Big 10) |
| 3 | Blake Fiddler | 6-4 (193) | 207 (94) | 7/9/07 | R | Frisco, Texas | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) | — |
| 6 | Matt Grimes | 6-1 (185) | 185 (84) | 5/19/07 | L | Locust Valley, N.Y. | Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) | University of Minnesota (Big 10) |
| 4 | Cullen McCrate | 6-3 (191) | 205 (93) | 4/18/07 | R | Adrian, Mich. | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) | Michigan State University (Big 10) |
| 17 | Carter Murphy | 5-8 (172) | 162 (73) | 2/13/07 | L | Conroe, Texas | Youngstoiwn Phantoms (USHL) | University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) |
| 5 | Jacob Rombach | 6-6 (198) | 195 (88) | 4/1/07 | L | Blaine, Minn. | Lincoln Stars (USHL) | University of Minnesota (Big 10) |
Forwards (13)
NO. | NAME | HT (CM) | WT (KG) | BIRTHDATE | S/C | HOMETOWN | MOST RECENT TEAM | COLLEGE COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Alexander Donovan | 5-10 (178) | 168 (76) | 4/8/07 | R | Darien, Conn. | Shattuck-St. Mary’s (USHS) | University of Denver (NCHC) |
| 13 | Travis Hayes | 5-11 (180) | 168 (76) | 9/3/07 | R | Westland, Mich. | Soo Greyhounds (OHL) | — |
| 10 | Chase Jette | 5-10 (178) | 170 (77) | 4/9/07 | R | Lake Forest, Ill. | Bishop Kearney Selects (NEPACK) | University of Wisconsin (Big 10) |
| 11 | Sam Kappell | 6-1 (185) | 190 (86) | 2/5/07 | R | Appleton, Wis. | Madison Capitols (USHL) | — |
| 7 | Ben Kevan | 6-0 (183) | 172 (78) | 1/3/07 | R | Fairfield, Calif. | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) | Arizona State University (NCHC) |
| 22 | Matthew Lansing | 6-1 (185) | 180 (82) | 2/24/07 | L | Tonawanda, N.Y. | Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) | Quinnipiac University (ECAC) |
| 14 | Mason Moe | 6-1 (185) | 185 (84) | 3/26/07 | L | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Eden Prairie High School (USHS) | — |
| 8 | Teddy Mutryn | 6-1 (185) | 195 (88) | 2/16/07 | R | Norwell, Mass. | St. Sebastian’s School (USHS) | Boston College (HEA) |
| 20 | Jesse Orlowsky | 6-3 (190) | 205 (93) | 3/27/07 | R | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Long Island Gulls (NEPACK) | Harvard University (ECAC) |
| 21 | Cooper Simpson | 6-1 (185) | 179 (81) | 2/5/07 | L | Shakopee, Minn. | Tri-City Storm (USHL) | University of North Dakota (NCHC) |
| 15 | Sam Spehar | 5-9 (175) | 170 (77) | 4/20/07 | R | Chaska, Minn. | Sioux Falls Power (T1EHL) | University of Denver (NCHC) |
| 9 | Kade Stengrim | 6-4 (193) | 200 (91) | 6/9/07 | L | Brainerd, Minn. | Brainerd High School (USHS) | — |
| 24 | Nicolas Sykora | 6-0 (183) | 175 (79) | 5/24/07 | L | Roseland, N.J. | Omaha Lancers (USHL) | Quinnipiac University (ECAC) |