COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — University of Notre Dame hockey players Trevor Janicke, Jake Pivonka and Spencer Stastney have been named to the preliminary U.S. roster for the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase that will take place from July 27-Aug. 3 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, USA Hockey announced today (June 20).
The trio will be among 44 U.S. players auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship set for Dec. 26, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020 in the Czech Republic. The week-long camp will include international competitions against Canada, Finland and Sweden.
Janicke will join the Irish as a freshman in 2019-20 after collecting 48 points (22G, 26A) while captaining the Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL) last season. Janicke, a forward who spent 2016-18 with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, is eligible for this weekend’s NHL Draft in Vancouver. The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native scored a pair of goals while helping Team USA earn the silver medal at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.
Pivonka scored two goals to go with eight assists last season. As a freshman, he played center for the entire season and became a key player in the faceoff circle for the Irish. Pivonka spent 2016-18 with the NTDP, and collected a pair of assists en route to a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. He also donned the red, white and blue at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, where he scored five goals to help Team USA take home the gold. Pivonka was selected 103rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Stastney skated in 39 contests as a freshman for the Irish in 2018-19, totaling one goal and three assists. His first-career goal came in the first period of Notre Dame’s 3-2 victory over Penn State in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game. Like Janicke and Pivonka, Stastney captured a silver medal with Team USA at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, where he collected one goal and four helpers. Stastney was selected 131st overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Dating back to 1997, 20 Notre Dame players have skated in the IIHF World Junior Championship. Most recently, Andrew Peeke earned a silver medal with the U.S. in the 2018 competition, becoming the sixth Irish hockey player to medal at the event.
Notre Dame’s other medalists include Anders Blork (bronze in 2016), Mario Lucia (gold in 2013), Kyle Palmieri (gold in 2010 and bronze in 2011), Kyle Lawson (bronze in 2007) and Ben Simon (silver in 1997).
Current Irish head coach Jeff Jackson also served as the U.S. head coach at the event in four consecutive years from 1997-2000. He helped guide Team USA to a silver medal in 1997, which at the time was its third-ever medal and best finish at the World Junior Championship.
The 2019-20 Fighting Irish hockey schedule has been announced, which includes 19 home games beginning with a matchup against Air Force on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Compton Family Ice Arena. Notre Dame will play 24 regular-season Big Ten games. Television coverage and game times will be announced at a later date. For ticket information, click here.