4 RoughRiders named to national team for World Junior ‘A’ Challenge

CEDAR RAPIDS - Four members of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have been selected to represent the United States on a team that will compete in the World Junior ‘A' Challenge international hockey tournament Dec. 13-19 at Ontario, Canada.

Defensemen Mitch Reinke and Jach Ahcan, and forwards Ross Colton and Cal Burke are part of a 20-player U.S. team comprised of players from the United States Hockey League. Colton, Burke and Reinke are the RoughRiders' three captains.

Four players on the team were drafted in 2015 by National Hockey League clubs: Omaha goaltender Kris Oldham (sixth round by Tampa Bay Lighting), Tri-City defenseman John Marino (sixth round by Edmonton Oilers), defenseman Ryan Zuhlsdorf (fifth round by Tampa Bay Lighting) and Youngstown forward Chase Pearson (fifth round by Detroit Red Wings).

The United States has won six of the last seven World Junior ‘A' Challenges.