COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship begins on Tuesday, and University of Maine men's ice hockey freshman Jeremy Swayman will be taking part in the tournament after being named to the final U.S. National Junior Team today, as announced by the organization. Joining Swayman at the WJC will be Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup of Denmark, who has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Black Bears in the fall. The tournament is to be played in Buffalo, N.Y. from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Team USA will play its preliminary-round games against Denmark, Slovakia, Canada and Finland.

Swayman and Schmidt-Svejstrup will face off on the first day of the tournament, Dec. 26, with the US and Denmark set for an 8:00 p.m. ET puck drop that can be seen live on NHL Network.
 
Swayman is one of three goaltenders on the final 23-player roster, joining Boston University's Jake Oettinger and Boston College's Joseph Woll along with seven defensemen and 13 forwards.
 
The Anchorage, Alaska native is 7-3-1 on the season with a .927 save percentage and 2.58 goals against average. His .927 save percentage is eighth overall in the nation, second in Hockey East and second in the nation among rookie netminders. Swayman was the November Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month runner-up and was also named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week on Nov. 20 after backstopping the Black Bears to a 5-2 win over then No. 19 Boston University with 40 saves and then again on Dec. 11 after he backstopped the Black Bears to a weekend road sweep of ECAC Hockey foe Quinnipiac. Swayman had a 95-save weekend, including 50 in a in a 7-4, come-from-behind win on Dec. 8, becoming the first Maine goaltender to make 95 stops in a weekend since Al Loring had 60 and 35 saves at North Dakota on Nov. 29 and 30, 1985.

Schmidt-Svejstrup currently leads the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 29 points with 17 goals - including six game-winners - and 12 assists in 23 games.

For the full Team USA roster, click here.

-UMaine-