GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Former North Dakota forwards Chris Porter and Travis Zajac, who were teammates for two seasons at UND, have been selected to represent their respective countries at the upcoming 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship in Slovakia.

Porter was one of 16 players selected by USA Hockey to play for the United States, while Zajac has accepted an invitation to play for Canada. The two were teammates at UND during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons and helped lead the Fighting Sioux to the NCAA Frozen Four in each of those years.

Porter, a native of Faribault, Minn., recently completed his fourth professional season, appearing in a career-high 45 games with the St. Louis Blues and scoring three goals and four assists. He also played 36 games with St. Louis' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Peoria, Ill., collecting nine goals and 11 assists with the Rivermen.

In four seasons in Peoria, Porter has amassed 111 (41 goals, 70 assists) in 241 games. He has also played in 51 NHL games with St. Louis, scoring four goals and five assists.

A four-year letterwinner at North Dakota from 2003-04 to 2006-07, Porter appeared in an NCAA-record 175 consecutive games and registered 42 goals and 51 assists for 93 points. He captained the 2007 Fighting Sioux to the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals and scored a career-high 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 43 games.

Zajac, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has spent five seasons with the New Jersey Devils and was voted the team's Unsung Hero in 2010-11 after playing in all 82 games and collecting 13 goals and 44 points.

In his five seasons in New Jersey, Zajac has amassed 249 points (89 goals, 160 assists) in 408 games. He has played in a franchise-record 401 consecutive games, the fifth-longest active streak in the NHL.

Zajac played for the Sioux in 2004-05 and 2005-06, collecting 96 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 91 games. He was named to the 2005 All-WCHA Rookie team and the 2005 NCAA All-Tournament team.

Zajac previously represented Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Championship.

The IIHF World Championship runs from April 29 to May 15, in Kosice and Bratislava, Slovakia.

 

 

- Go Sioux -