Men's Ice Hockey | June 15, 2018

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Incoming Western Michigan hockey freshmen Paul Cotter and Mattias Samuelsson have been named to Team USA's roster for the 2018 World Junior Summer Showcase.

The camp takes place July 28-Aug. 4 in Kamloops, British Columbia. Cotter and Samuelsson will look to impress as they work towards earning a roster spot for the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships that take place in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C., Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

Samuelsson recently captained USA's U-18 team to a silver medal at the 2018 U-18 World Championships. The 6-foot-4 defenseman played in all seven games, scoring a goal and tallying an assist. In all competitions with the US National Team Development Program and the U-18 team he played in 88 games, scoring 16 goals and adding 31 assists for 47 points.

Cotter, a 6-foot forward, had a stellar season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. The Canton, Mich., native played in 51 games and scored 18 goals with 21 assists for 39 points in just his first season in the USHL.

Both are eligible for the upcoming 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Samuelsson was ranked the 21st-best skater in North American by NHL Central Scouting, placing him potentially as a first round draft pick. Cotter was ranked 112th amongst North American skaters and could see his name called in later rounds.

WMU's two players selected for the camp were the second-most out of any team in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.