USA Hockey on Monday announced that Bulldog freshmen Wyatt Kaiser and Connor Kelley are among 44 Americans selected to the 2021 U.S. World Junior Summer Showcase Roster. The two defensemen join eight other current and incoming NCHC student-athletes to be invited -- four rising sophomores and six incoming freshmen. 

The Showcase serves as an evaluation for the athletes as they look to make the 2022 U.S. National Junior Team and compete at the 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship. The Bulldogs have some familiarity with the championship; men's hockey head coach Scott Sandelin has been behind the bench four times for the IIHF World Junior Championships -- twice as an assistant coach and twice as head coach. 

Kaiser was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team in 2020-21. A Chicago Blackhawks draft pick, he led all NCHC rookies with 40 blocked shots. He also recorded 10 assists in 28 games played this season for the Bulldogs. Kelley recorded five points this season -- three goals, two assists -- in 25 games. 

The two Bulldog blueliners will be joined by eight other current and incoming NCHC student-athletes, including two rising sophomore defensemen from North Dakota and incoming student-athletes from Denver, Miami, Omaha, and St. Cloud State.

The Showcase will also feature teams from Finland and Sweden and includes 11 games across eight days. Team USA invitees will be split into two squads for the Showcase and compete against the Finns and Swedes. The final 2022 U.S. Junior National Team roster will be announced in December.