Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Hockey sends Prospects to USA Juniors

By Noah Seligman

Jan 24, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; The Kohl Center is the home of the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. The image was taken before the game with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; The Kohl Center is the home of the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. The image was taken before the game with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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A trio of Wisconsin Hockey players have been invited to participate in an international  hockey competition

A new release from the UW Athletic Department reports that Wisconsin Hockey sophomore Trent Frederic, and 2017 freshman Tyler Inamoto and Sean Dhooge were selected for the “U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp.”

The camp is being held at the end of July, and will help establish the team for the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship.

The World Junior Championships will run from December 26, 2017 until January 5, 2018 featuring teams from 10 different countries “under the age of 20.”

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Among the Wisconsin Hockey players represented, Frederic was the 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year along with earned All-Big Ten second team honors.  He tallied 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists), good for 2nd in goals and 5th in helpers for Wisconsin Hockey last season.  He also led the Badgers in shooting percentage (.203) and was 5th in +/- finishing the Wisconsin Hockey season with a +2 overall.

All three invitees have experience playing for the U.S. National Team at the Junior level.  Inamoto scored an average NHL Prospect ranking of 96 overall based on a composite score from six scouting services.   He may get picked in the middle rounds of the NHL Draft on Saturday.  Dhooge was recently featured in the New York Times, the publication fascinated by the success of the diminutive (5’3″) Dhooge.

To help get a little perspective on the impact for Wisconsin Hockey, I emailed with Vic Levine.  He is a family friend and member of the Madison Sports Hall of Fame.  Levine coached 29 seasons at Madison Memorial High School winning 676 games and six state titles.  But only six.

Next: Wisconsin Hockey: Don Granato Leaves for the NHL

Levine said Wisconsin Hockey has not sent players to these camps recently so it’s a significant recognition for the program.  As always, getting your recruits/players on the U.S. National Team at any level will boost the recruiting pitch for Wisconsin Hockey.   Levine said the World Juniors will attract NHL scouts.  He also noted the possibility of NHL players skipping the next Winter Olympics which opens more opportunities with the U.S. National Team.