DENVER – Sophomore defenseman Sean Behrens of the University of Denver hockey team is on the United States' roster for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
 
This marks Behrens' second time on the U.S. National Junior Team after making the squad for the revamped 2022 World Juniors this past August. He appeared in one game at the under-20 tournament due to injury.
 
The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship is set from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Team USA is in Group B and will play its preliminary games at Avenir Centre in Moncton. The semifinal and medal games will take place at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.
 
Behrens is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, as he played for the NTDP in Plymouth, Michigan, from 2019-2021 before joining the Pioneers. He also represented the United States internationally at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship and 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
 
The Barrington, Illinois, native ranks second among Denver defensemen in scoring with eight points (one goal and seven assists) in 16 games this season, which included a three-point performance on Dec. 3 versus Arizona State. He is also second on the Pioneers with 30 blocked shots.
 
DU had three players invited to Team USA's training camp earlier in December, as defenseman Shai Buium and forward Jack Devine also participated.
 
The U.S. has claimed 13 total medals at the World Junior Championship and five golds, winning the tournament in 2004, 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2021. All of the United States' games will be broadcasted on NHL Network.
 
TEAM USA SCHEDULE
Monday, Dec. 26 vs. Latvia – 2 p.m. MT
Wednesday, Dec. 28 vs. Slovakia – 2 p.m. MT
Thursday, Dec. 29 vs. Switzerland – 2 p.m. MT
Saturday, Dec. 31 vs. Finland – 2 p.m. MT
Monday, Jan. 2 – Quarterfinals – Time TBD
Wednesday, Jan. 4 – Semifinals – 12:30/4:30 p.m. MT
Thursday, Jan. 5 – Bronze/Gold Medal Games – 12:30/4:30 p.m. MT

* U.S. Preliminary Round games at Avenir Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick. All games broadcasted on NHL Network.

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