Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Andrew Peeke has been named to the preliminary U.S.A. World Junior roster. The defenseman has 8 points and 35 blocked shots in 18 games with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this season.
Sophomore defenseman Andrew Peeke has been named to the preliminary roster for the U.S. National Junior Team! #USAWJC pic.twitter.com/7YlcDVhGR6
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) December 5, 2017
Peeke is one of 28 players on the preliminary roster, which will be sliced down to 23 before being finalized.
The 2018 World Junior tournament starts on Dec. 26 and ends with the Gold Medal Game on Jan. 5. Buffalo, New York's KeyBank Center and HarborCenter are the selected venues. The tournament features an outdoor match between the U.S.A. and Canada, the first of its kind in world junior history.
The training camp for the U.S. squad will be held at Nationwide Arena and OhioHealth Ice Haus in Columbus from Dec. 15-19.
The Blue Jackets selected Peeke with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
"I see myself as more of a two-way defenseman that's always been more of a defensive type guy first. The last couple of years I've tried to translate to more of the offensive side of my game," Peeke said after being drafted.
Peeke stands an intimidating 6-3 with a 200-pound frame, possessing a physicality fans will surely enjoy in the future. Playing for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers at the time he was drafted, Peeke held a plus-minus of 7 and tallied 30 points in 56 games with the team.
