GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- North Dakota sophomore defenseman Derek Forbort has been named to the United States' final roster for the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship.
The World Junior Champion takes place Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.
Forbort was key member on the 2011 U.S. team that won the bronze medal
in Buffalo, N.Y. The Duluth, Minn., native appeared in all six games and
helped lead the U.S. to its second straight medal.
In 18 games this season with the 18th-ranked Fighting Sioux, Forbort has
a goal (PPG) and three assists. A first-round draft pick, 15th overall,
of the Los Angeles Kings in 2010, Forbort produced 15 assists and led
all Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) rookie defensemen with
plus-21 in 38 games as a freshman last season.
Team USA will look to earn its third straight medal after capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., and the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask.
Forbort is the 32nd player to represent UND on
the U.S. National Junior roster dating back to 1979. The Sioux hockey
program has now had 46 participants in the prestigious World Junior Hockey
Championship, representing the United States, Canada and Slovakia.
Fighting Sioux at the World Junior Championship
1979: Dave Christian (USA), Tim Mishler (USA), Mike Stone (USA)
1981: Mark Huglen (USA), Craig Ludwig (USA)
1982: Jon Casey (USA), Troy Murray (CAN), James Patrick (CAN)
1983: James Patrick (CAN), Gord Sherven (CAN), Rick Zombo (USA)
1984: Scott Sandelin (USA)
1985: Brad Berry (CAN)
1987: Lee Davidson (USA)
1988: Lee Davidson (USA)
1989: Geoff Smith (CAN)
1990: Jason Herter (CAN)
1991: Chris Gotziaman (USA), Greg Johnson (CAN)
1992: Brad Bombardir (CAN), Marty Schriner (USA)
1994: Toby Kvalevog (USA)
1995: Landon Wilson (USA)
2001: David Hale (USA)
2003: Matt Greene (USA), Matt Jones (USA), Zach Parise (USA), Rastislav Spirko (Slovakia)
2004: Brady Murray (USA), Zach Parise (USA), Rastislav Spirko (Slovakia), Drew Stafford (USA)
2005: Brian Lee (USA), Drew Stafford (USA)
2006: Taylor Chorney (USA), Brian Lee (USA), T.J. Oshie (USA), Jonathan Toews (CAN)
2007: Taylor Chorney (USA), Brian Lee (USA), Jonathan Toews (CAN)
2009: Danny Kristo (USA)
2010: Danny Kristo (USA)
2011: Derek Forbort (USA), Brock Nelson (USA)
2012: Derek Forbort (USA)
For more information, visit www.usahockey.com.
