When the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Nick Robertson 53rd overall in June, the feeling was he might make Team USA for the World Junior Championships, but he might not. The team has taken some heat in the past for overlooking Americans who play junior hockey in Canada, but lately, that’s becoming as common as Canadians playing in the NCAA, and it just can’t be a barrier anymore.
Today Team USA has named their WJC preliminary roster, and Robertson, just back from a broken finger, is on the list.
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Making the team seemed doubtful back at the draft because his only previous trip to a high-level event on his national team was the U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2019 where he had five points in five games.