Six Michigan natives make US World Juniors roster

If teams want to score on the United States’ World Juniors team this year, they’re going to have to get past a back-end built by Michigan talent.

USA Hockey announced their official roster for the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship today. Twenty-two of the United States’ best – six of which are from the state of Michigan – will compete against top talent from around the world Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Calgary. Michigan’s six players is the highest total of any state for this year’s roster.

Here are the Michigan natives who will play on one of hockey’s biggest stages this holiday season, four of which are goaltenders or defensemen:

Jack Campbell – goaltender – Port Huron

Campbell, who plays for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, has long been considered one of the best goaltending prospects in the world, both before and after he was drafted 11th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2010. The Port Huron native is 6-4-2-1 with the Soo this season, and he holds a .911 save percentage. Over two seasons with the Windsor Spitfires and the Soo, the 6-foot-2, 182-pound goaltender is 36-21-5-4.

Kevin Gravel – defenseman – Kingsford

Gravel, a defenseman currently skating for St. Cloud State University of the WCHA, is a fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings. The Kingsford native (LAKings.com has his birthplace listed as Marquette) has four points in 20 games this season with the Huskies. Gravel, listed at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, has one goal and nine assists of 56 career collegiate games.

Jon Merrill – defenseman – Brighton

Merrill may be a surprise pick because of his suspension with the University of Michigan, but he is still one of the top defenseman in the nation. The second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils had 25 points with the Wolverines as a freshman last season, earning him spots on the NCAA All-Frozen Four team and the CCHA All-Rookie team. However, the 6-foot-3, 209-pound defenseman hasn’t skated in a game this season.

Jacob Trouba – defenseman – Rochester

Trouba, currently playing for the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, is the lone ’94 birthday to crack the US roster. The 6-foot-2, 191-pound defenseman has been talked about as a potential top-ten pick in this year’s NHL draft. It will be interesting to see how the youthful Trouba handles the international stage.

Austin Czarnik – forward – Washington

Czarnik has been turning heads with Miami University as a freshman this season. He is second on the team in scoring with seven goals and nine assists in 19 games, behind only Reilly Smith (a third-round pick of the Stars, and brother of Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith). The Washington native, listed at 5-foot-8 and 152 pounds, played for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL before heading to Miami.

Austin Watson – forward – Ann Arbor

Watson, currently playing for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, was chosen 18th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2010 NHL Draft. He has 14 goals and 19 assists through 32 games with the Petes this season. In four-plus seasons, Watson has recorded 78 goals and 106 assists in 215 OHL games with Windsor and Peterborough.