For the sixth consecutive time, players from the American Collegiate Hockey Association will represent Team U.S.A. at the Winter World University Games. And for the third-consecutive competition, an Ohio University player has been selected as one of those players.
Ohio sophomore forward Tyler Pilmore will make his first appearance with a U.S. national team when he heads to Turkey later this month to join the team.
The tournament is a biannual event that will be held in Erzurum, Turkey, from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6. It is part of a broader event that includes other Olympic sports such as skiing, curling, snow boarding and short-track skating.
Pilmore said the opportunity to represent his country on such a large stage is something in which he takes great pride.
It's a great honor to be selected
and it's obviously going to be a great experience he said.
In order to be selected, Pilmore attended a try-out camp last summer and was one of 27 players chosen.
Pilmore leads Ohio with 47 total points, coming on 15 goals and 32 assists through the first 24 games of the season. Despite his success, Pilmore credited much of his achievements to his teammates.
If it wasn't for my teammates I wouldn't be where I am. Guys like Michael Schultz and Nick Rostek are both huge supporters
he said. Without the leadership of some of the older guys and the support of the rest of the team
I definitely wouldn't be able to do it. I just feel honored and fortunate to be the one picked.
Other Ohio players who have been selected for Team U.S.A. in the past include goaltender Paul Marshall in 2009 and forward James Fuhs in 2007.
The Bobcats will lose Pilmore for one of the toughest stretches of the season, which includes a series against Lindenwood (No. 1, ACHA).
Despite losing one of its top goal-scorers, Pilmore said he does not expect his team to miss him too much.
I expect to see us win six games. I don't expect to see them miss a beat
Pilmore said. We're way too good of a team to miss one player. They'll just keep going
carry on the momentum and keep winning games.
With a seventh place finish in 2009, Team U.S.A. will be coming off its best finish since 2001 and will look to make the medal stand for the first time since ACHA players began filling the U.S. roster.
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Rob Ogden
