Dec. 23, 2017 | Final USA Roster

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Sophomore defenseman Andrew Peeke has been named to the final U.S. National Junior Team roster, USA Hockey announced on Saturday morning (Dec. 23).

Peeke and Team USA will be taking part in the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York, from Dec. 26, 2017 - Jan. 5, 2018 at the KeyBank Center and HarborCenter.

The NHL Network will televise the tournament and Team USA will open preliminary round play at 8 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Dec. 26 against Denmark. The U.S. will also play in the first ever IIHF World Junior Championship outdoor game when it takes on rival Canada at New Era Field on Dec. 29. In addition to Denmark and Canada, Team USA will play preliminary round games against Slovakia and Finland.

Peeke, who also took part in Team USA’s 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase this past summer, has skated in all 20 games for the Irish this season and posted eight points on a goal and seven assists. He has blocked 38 shots this season, which is tied for fifth in the Big Ten and leads the Irish. He also is tied for fourth on the team with a +12 rating, which also ranks tied for eighth in the country.

Selected in the second round (34th overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Peeke was the lone defenseman selected to the Hockey East All-Rookie team last season.

Current Boston Bruins forward Anders Bjork is the most recent Irish player to make Team USA’s World Junior Championship team (2015-16). Dating back to 1997, 20 Notre Dame players have now taken part in the IIHF World Junior Championships with the addition of Peeke.

Bjork and Team USA went on to win the bronze in Helsinki, and he become the fifth Notre Dame player to medal at the prestigious event. Notre Dame’s other medalists include 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).

The third-ranked Fighting Irish return from break for a Big Ten matchup against Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 5. The game will air live on BTN.

-- ND --