When it departs for south Florida and the Everblades Classic in a few weeks, the University of Minnesota Duluth will be without one of its standout defensemen.

Matt Niskanen, who currently tops all Bulldog blueliners in scoring, will instead be spending the holidays suiting up for the U.S. entry at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Vancouver, Kamloops, and Kelowna, British Columbia. The 6-1, 190-pound Mountain Iron, Minn. native was one of 22 players selected for the team, which will take on Sweden (Dec. 21) and Norway (Dec. 23) in a pair of exhibitions before beginning pool play against Norway on Dec. 26 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The 10-team event concludes on Jan. 6. Comprised of the best American players under the age of 20, the U.S. club will convene on Dec. 18 in Seattle before heading to Victoria, British Columbia the following day.

Ten Bulldogs have skated for the U.S. National Junior Team previously, with the last coming in 1991 (center Derek Plante). Current UMD head coach Scott Sandelin handled the U.S. head coaching responsibilities one year ago.

Niskanen, the Dallas Stars' first round pick in last July's National Hockey League Draft, has racked up eight points on one goal and seven assists this season while skating in all 16 Bulldog games to date. He and the Bulldogs will be in Colorado Springs, Colo. this Friday and Saturday for a two-game series with defending Western Collegiate Hockey Association co-champion Colorado College.