One look up and down the roster of any U.S. national team typically and you’ll see the home states of many players start with the letter M – Minnesota, Michigan or Massachusetts. For the state with the most natives playing for this year’s U.S. National Junior Team, however, you have to travel up the alphabet a little ways to the letter I. Five Illinois natives are part of Team USA’s roster for the World Junior Championship, four of which played the bulk of their developmental hockey within the state. Defenseman Connor Carrick of Orland Park and forwards Tommy Di Pauli of Woodridge, Ryan Hartman of West Dundee, Vince Hinostroza of Bartlett and Stefan Matteau of Chicago all called Illinois home at one point. READ MORE >>>
Categories: Alumni in the News, Hockey Headlines