Eagle River hockey player Cam McDonald’s time with Team USA ended Saturday when he was left off the final 25-man roster for the World Junior Championships.
McDonald, a sophomore at Providence College, was one of 10 defensemen invited to the weeklong tryout camp in Plymouth, Michigan.
Nine defensemen made the roster after two highly touted forwards — Michigan Wolverines teammates John Beecher and Thomas Bordeleau — had to be cut after positive COVID-19 test results, according to reports in the Boston Globe and Mercury News.
That leaves Team USA with 13 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders. The tournament, a showcase of the world’s top players under the age of 20, begins Dec. 25 and ends Jan. 5 in Edmonton, Alberta.
McDonald, 19, was seeking to become the 10th Alaska man to play in the World Juniors and join a list that includes Isaiah Seville (2019), Jeremy Swayman (2018), Matt Carle (2004), Joey Hope (2002), Barrett Heisten (1999 and 2000), Scott Gomez (1998 and 1999), Ty Jones (1998), B.J. Young (1997) and Brian Swanson (1996).
Three of those players brought home medals — Carle won gold, and Young and Swayman each won silver.
As a high school player at Eagle River, McDonald helped the Wolves win the 2017 Cook Inlet Conference championship before heading off to play junior hockey for the Kenai River Brown Bears and the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Last season as a freshman at Providence, McDonald scored three goals and three assists while skating in all 34 games. All three of his goals were game-winners.