Bruins Prospects: Hall, Beecher To USA Camp

Two Boston Bruins prospects will be heading to USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan later this month to compete for roster spots at the 2020 World Junior Championship. First round selection John Beecher and 2018 fourth round pick Curtis Hall are two of the 28 players named to Team USA’s preliminary roster for tournament. Both participated in the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth.

Beecher, the 30th overall pick in June, is currently a freshman at the University of Michigan. In 16 games played, the freshman has registered nine points (5 g, 4 a). That is good for a tie for the team lead in scoring. Beecher also leads the Big Ten in faceoffs won by a freshman, winning 147 of his draws. That’s good for a 54.4% success rate. He’s been clutch for the Wolverines as well. Beecher has two game-winning goals in his freshman campaign.

Hall, meanwhile, is currently in his sophomore season at Yale University. Selected with the 119th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Hall registered eleven points (5 g, 6 a) in 24 games with the Bulldogs a season ago. He’s got seven points (6 g, 1 a) in nine tilts this season and is a +5 for Yale. His eleven points a season ago were the third most among first-year skaters for Yale.

Although this is a relatively new opportunity for Hall, it is the third opportunity for Beecher to represent his country in a major tournament. He won a bronze medal a year ago with Team USA at the 2019 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, and also won first place at the 2017 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. Beecher added four goals and an assist in five games at the Summer Showcase.

Hall, meanwhile, had one points (1 g, 0 a) in five games for Team USA at the Summer Showcase.

The pre-tournament camp kicks off December 16th and will run two days before Team USA trims the roster from 28 to 23 skaters. They will then make the trek to the Czech Republic, where the tournament will take place from December 26th – January 5th. The event takes place in the towns of Ostrava and Trinec. Team USA won the silver medal a season ago, their fourth consecutive year on the podium.