The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets announced today that three alumni have been named to World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary rosters.  Connor Murphy, Sean Kuraly and Thomas Nykopp will compete to represent their respective countries at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship tournament which will be held from December 26 – January 5 at Ufa, Russia. 

Connor Murphy and Sean Kuraly are among 27 players named to the preliminary roster for the 2013 United States National Junior Team.  The selected players will attend training camp from December 16-18 in Tarrytown, New York and an additional camp in Helsinki, Finland before the final 23-man roster is announced on December 23.

Murphy is currently playing for the Sarnia Sting in the OHL and was a 1^stround draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2011.  Kuraly is enrolled and playing for Miami University in the CCHA and was a 5^thround pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2011.

Thomas Nykopp will suit up for his native Finland U20 team which will also compete in Ufa.  Nykopp, a 1^stround draft pick to Tri City Storm in the USHL is an NHL Free Agent, is currently playing professionally for HIFK in the SM-liiga, which is the top professional league in Finland.

Congratulations to all three players!!