USA Hockey facing roster challenges ahead of World Junior Championship

The 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships are set to get underway on Christmas Day, and all ten participating nations are gearing up by holding their preliminary camps. It appears now that Sweden isn't the only country with players testing positive for COVID-19.

According to Jeff Cox, a prospects analyst for the New England Hockey Journal, three United States players have tested positive, and will not be joining the team for camp. Forward Robert Mastrosimone (DET-2019), defenceman Alex Vlasic (CHI-2019), and goaltender Drew Commesso (CHI-2020) all tested positive for COVID-19.

Hearing a trio of Boston University players will not be joining @usahockey at the World Junior Championship training camp as expected. F Robert Mastrosimone, D Alex Vlasic, and G Drew Commesso are out. Related to Covid protocols.— Jeff Cox (@JeffCoxSports) December 6, 2020

The United States have also wasted no time in looking for a replacement for those three players. According to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Folks Herald, University of North Dakota defenceman Tyler Kleven has been called into the US Camp. Kleven was drafted in the second round, 44th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Tyler Kleven is packing up right now to leave Omaha. Last minute call for U.S. World Junior team. UND is down to six defensemen for the Pod: Kiersted, JBD, Frisch, Bast, Rieger and Moore.— Brad Elliott Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) December 6, 2020

Mastrosimone, Vlasic, and Commesso all play for the University of Boston. In 34 games last season, Mastrosimone, 19, had 17 points (7 G, 10 A), 10 penalty minutes, and was a -1. Vlasic, 19, put up 4 points (4 A), 10 penalty minutes, and was a -5 in 34 games. Commesso, 18, played last season with the USNDTP in the USHL. In 11 games, he had a record of 8 wins, 2 losses, a 2.01 GAA, a .917 save percentage, and had 2 shutouts.

Kleven, 18, has 0 points, 0 penalty minutes, and is a +/-0 in 2 games for the University of North Dakota so far this season.

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