Aaron
Vickers
December 15, 2021

Beniers, Cooley to represent Team USA at World Juniors

Matthew Beniers, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Seattle Kraken, will lead Team USA into the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.

He had three points (one goal, two assists) in seven games to help Team USA to gold at the tournament last year.

Beniers, 19, has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 20 games as a sophomore with Michigan this season.

“Beniers’ shooting and finishing ability has taken a step since last season but it’s his off the puck work in the offensive zone that has impressed a lot this year,” FCHockey scout Austin Broad said. “He exploits the soft spots in the defensive coverage and has consistently been able to open himself up in prime scoring positions, allowing him to use his shot with little, or no pressure from the opposition.”

Beniers is one of six first-round picks on Team USA.

Luke Hughes was selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft by the New Jersey Devils, and Matthew Coronato was selected13th overall by the Calgary Flames. Chaz Lucius went 18th overall to the Winnipeg Jets and Mackie Samoskevich was selected with the No. 24 pick by the Florida Panthers. Jake Sanderson was the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Logan Cooley, 17, is a projected top-five pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

“Cooley is one of the best U20 players the USA has to offer,” Broad said. “The team has good forward depth, but lacks a true superstar, so I think there’s a real chance for Cooley to emerge as a go-to guy for Team USA.”

He has 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 20 games for the US National Team Development Program this season.

“While it’s not a lock that he starts with a significant role, Cooley is too talented of a player to not play a ton of minutes for the USA. With his offensive upside and two-way prowess I expect him to be one of the team’s top performers at the tournament.”

Here’s a rundown of Team USA’s roster for the World Juniors:

POS NAME HT WT TEAM LEAGUE CLUB YEAR RND PICK
G Drew Commesso 6’2″ 181 Boston University NCAA Chicago Blackhawks 2020 2 46
G Kaidan Mbereko 5’11” 190 Lincoln Stars USHL 2022
G Dylan Silverstein 6’0″ 179 NTDP U18 USHL 2022
D Brock Faber 6’1″ 194 Minnesota NCAA Los Angeles Kings 2020 2 45
D Luke Hughes 6’2″ 184 Michigan NCAA New Jersey Devils 2021 1 4
D Wyatt Kaiser 6’0″ 184 Minnesota Duluth NCAA Chicago Blackhawks 2020 3 81
D Tyler Kleven 6’4″ 208 North Dakota NCAA Ottawa Senators 2020 2 44
D Ian Moore 6’3″ 185 Harvard NCAA Anaheim Ducks 2020 3 67
D Scott Morrow 6’2″ 192 Massachusetts NCAA Carolina Hurricanes 2021 2 40
D Jack Peart 5’11” 190 St. Cloud State NCAA Minnesota Wild 2021 2 54
D Jake Sanderson 6’1″ 195 North Dakota NCAA Ottawa Senators 2020 1 5
F Matthew Beniers 6’1″ 175 Michigan NCAA Seattle Kraken 2021 1 2
F Brett Berard 5’9″ 163 Providence NCAA New York Rangers 2020 5 234
F Logan Cooley 5’10” 179 NTDP U18 USHL 2022
F Matthew Coronato 5’10” 183 Harvard NCAA Calgary Flames 2021 1 13
F Tanner Dickinson 6’0″ 170 Soo Greyhounds OHL St. Louis Blues 2020 4 119
F Dominic James 5’11” 165 Minnesota Duluth NCAA 2022
F Matt Knies 6’3″ 212 Minnesota NCAA Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 2 57
F Chaz Lucius 6’1″ 185 Minnesota NCAA Winnipeg Jets 2021 1 18
F Carter Mazur 6’0″ 180 Denver NCAA Detroit Red Wings 2021 3 70
F Sasha Pastujov 6’0″ 183 Guelph Storm OHL Anaheim Ducks 2021 3 66
F Mackie Samoskevich 5’11” 190 Michigan NCAA Florida Panthers 2021 1 24
F Red Savage 5’11” 181 Miami University NCAA Detroit Red Wings 2021 4 114
F Landon Slaggert 6’0″ 188 Notre Dame NCAA Chicago Blackhawks 2020 3 79
F Ty Smilanic 6’1″ 179 Quinnipiac NCAA Florida Panthers 2020 3 71

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