ZURICH – More preliminary team rosters have been announced for the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship in Ufa, Russia.

Head coach Mikhail Varnakov announced the roster for the preparation camp of the host nation’s team that won silver last year in Calgary and gold two years ago in Buffalo.

The Russians will assemble in Novogorsk for a camp from 7 to 20 December before moving to Ufa with the final roster. Three goalkeepers, 11 defencemen and 17 forwards were named to the team.

The players mostly come from the Russian KHL or their junior teams in the Russian junior league MHL respectively. Seven players come from Canadian junior teams, mostly from the QMJHL.

The roster features number-one NHL draft pick Nail Yakupov, who currently plays for his hometown team Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the KHL. Also among the returnees is Mikhail Grigorenko, currently in second place in goal scoring in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts.

Finland’s coach Harri Rindell named three goalkeepers, 10 defencemen and 16 forwards for next week’s camp in Vierumäki, 10-14 December.

Four players join the team from Canada while the remaining players come from Finnish senior or junior leagues. Tappara Tampere scoring leader Aleksander Barkov will return after becoming one of the youngest players to score a goal in U20 World Championship history last year.

Born in 1995, Barkov will have the possibility to play four U20 World Championships during his years of eligibility. Another player who shows offensive skill in the Finnish top league SM-liiga is also born in 1995. Artturi Lehkonen is second in scoring with KalPa Kuopio and will play in his first U20 World Championship after having been the scoring leader of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship last spring.

The Czech Republic is relying on more talent playing overseas. 12 players come from teams of the Canadian Hockey League, highlighted by Dmitrij Jaskin, the top scorer of the Moncton Wildcats. Radek Faksa, Tomas Hertl, Marek Hrbas, Tomas Hyka, David Musil and Lukas Sedlak are other returnees from last year’s team. In total 27 players were nominated for a five-day camp in Rokycany.

The youngest player is 1996-born Jakub Vrana, who was recently promoted to the senior team of his Swedish club Linköpings HC.

Also three teams that missed the quarter-finals last year named their camp rosters.

The U.S. will aim for a better finish after surprisingly landing in the relegation round last year. New coach and IIHF Hall of Fame member Phil Housley will be able to select among 27 players who were invited to the training camp 16 to 18 December at the New York Rangers' Madison Square Garden Training Center. An additional training camp will follow in Helsinki with exhibition games against Finland and Sweden before the final 23-man roster will be named.

13 states are represented in the roster that includes three returnees: goalkeeper John Gibson, defenceman Jacob Trouba and forward J.T. Miller.

Switzerland named 29 players for the camps in Lenzerheide and Wetzikon. Most of them play in the two top men’s leagues or in the junior league, highlighted by smallish winger Lino Martschini, who scored six goals this season for EV Zug in the National League A.

The roster of Sean Simpson, who is also the head coach of the men’s national team, includes two players from Swedish junior teams and six players from the Canadian Hockey League including three players with more than 30 scoring points this season: Sven Andrighetto, Alessio Bertaggia and Tanner Richard.

Latvia will again travel to the World Juniors as an underdog, but Ufa will be the fourth top-division tournament in five years for the U20 team. Long-time national team player Leonids Tambijevs named 32 players for the training camp from 10 to 22 December in Broceni.

Most of the players come from HK Riga, the junior team of KHL club Dinamo Riga that plays in the Russian junior league MHL. The camp rosters also includes four players from the Canadian Hockey League, Teodors Blugers from the NCAA’s Minnesota State University, three players from the Swiss junior league and one each from Austria, Finland and Russia.

MARTIN MERK

Czech Republic

Goalkeepers:
Patrik Bartosak, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Jan Lukas, HC Olomouc
Matej Machovsky, Brampton Battalion (OHL)

Defencemen:
Milan Doudera, Rytiri Kladno
Marek Hrbas, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Tomas Kvapil, Energie Karlovy Vary
David Musil, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Tomas Pavelka, P.E.I. Rocket (QMJHL)
Jan Stencel, Vitkovice Ostrava
Vojtech Zadrazil, Dukla Jihlava
Petr Sidlik, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Patrik Urbanec, PSG Zlin

Forwards:
Matej Beran, P.E.I. Rocket (QMJHL)
Petr Beranek, Orli Znojmo
Radek Faksa, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Martin Frk, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Tomas Hertl, Slavia Prague
Tomas Hyka, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Dmitrij Jaskin, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Petr Koblasa, Energie Karlovy Vary
Erik Nemec, Vitkovice Ostrava
Tomas Rousek, HC Ceske Budejovice
Lukas Sedlak, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
Dominik Simon, Sparta Prague
Michal Svihalek, HC Ceske Budejovice
Vojtech Tomecek, Energie Karlovy Vary
Jakub Vrana, Linköpings HC (SWE)


Finland

Goalkeepers:
Janne Juvonen, Pelicans Lahti
Joonas Korpisalo, Jokerit Helsinki
Eetu Laurikainen, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

Defencemen:
Henri Auvinen, JYP-Akatemia Jyväskylä
Petteri Lindbohm, Jokerit Helsinki
Esa Lindell, Jokerit Helsinki
Olli Määttä, London Knights (OHL)
Ville Pokka, Kärpät Oulu
Juuso Riikola, KalPa Kuopio
Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS Turku
Juuso Vainio, HPK Hämeenlinna
Mikko Vainonen, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Joonas Valkonen, Espoo Blues

Forwards:
Miro Aaltonen, Espoo Blues
Joel Armia, Ässät Pori
Aleksander Barkov, Tappara Tampere
Markus Granlund, HIFK Helsinki
Henrik Haapala, Tappara Tampere
Markus Hännikäinen, Jokerit Helsinki
Henri Ikonen, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Juuso Ikonen, Espoo Blues
Ville Järveläinen, Peliitat Heinola
Matti Lamberg, Jokerit Helsinki
Artturi Lehkonen, KalPa Kuopio
Robert Leino, HPK Hämeenlinna
Thomas Nykopp, HIFK Helsinki
Saku Salminen, Jokerit Helsinki
Miikka Salomäki, Kärpät Oulu
Teuvo Teräväinen, Jokerit Helsinki


Latvia

Goalkeepers:
Rihards Cimermanis, HK Riga
Elvis Merzlikins, HC Lugano (SUI)
Vadims Miscuks, Liepajas Metalurgs
Ivars Punnenovs, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (SUI)

Defencemen:
Edmunds Augstkalns, HK Riga
Matiss Gelazis, Graz 99ers (AUT)
Janis Jaks, HK Riga
Kriss Lipsbergs, HK Riga
Roberts Mamcics, Liepajas Metalurgs
Kristaps Nimanis, Red Ducks Vaasa (FIN)
Rinalds Rosinskis, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Edgars Siksna, Liepajas Metalurgs
Patriks Skuratovs, HK Riga
Pauls Zvirbulis, HK Riga

Forwards:
Toms Andersons, SC Bern (SUI)
Rustams Begovs, HK Riga
Teodors Blugers, Minnesota State University (NCAA)
Rihards Bukarts, HK Riga
Artjoms Dasutins, MVD Balashikha (RUS)
Zemgus Girgensons, Rochester Americans (AHL)
Georgs Golovkovs, HK Riga
Nikolajs Jelisejevs, HK Riga
Nikita Jevpalovs, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Edgars Kulda, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Edgars Kurmis, HK Riga
Arturs Kuzmenkovs, Liepajas Metalurgs
Martins Lavrovs, HK Riga
Roberts Lipsbergs, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Karlis Ozolins, Liepajas Metalurgs
Lauris Rancevs, HK Riga
Deivids Sarkanis, HK Riga
Andris Siksnis, HK Riga


Russia

Goalkeepers:
Andrei Makarov, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Igor Ustinski, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk
Andrei Vasilevski, Tolpar Ufa

Defencemen:
Kirill Dyakov, Mamonty Yugry
Yaroslav Dyblenko, Mytishinskie Atlanty
Pavel Koledov, Loko Yaroslavl
Andrei Mironov, Dynamo Moscow
Mikhail Naumenkov, CSKA Moscow
Nikita Nesterov, Traktor Chelyabinsk
Artyom Sergeyev, Val d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
Nikita Tryamkin, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Alexei Vasilevski, Tolpar Ufa
Albert Yarullin, Ak Bars Kazan
Nikita Zadorov, London Knights (OHL)

Forwards:
Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Kirill Kapustin, Loko Yaroslavl
Alexander Khokhlachyov, Spartak Moscow
Yaroslav Kosov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Nikita Kucherov, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
Yevgeni Mozer, Omskie Yastreby
Valeri Nichushkin, Chelmet Chelyabinsk
Danil Romantsev, Loko Yaroslavl
Maxim Shalunov, Traktor Chelyabinsk
Anton Shenfeld, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk
Andrei Sigaryov, SKA St. Petersburg
Anton Slepyshev, Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Vladimir Tkachyov, Ak Bars Kazan
Bogdan Yakimov, Dizel Penza
Nail Yakupov, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Danil Zharkov, Belleville Bulls (OHL)
Anton Zlobin, Val d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)


Switzerland

Goalkeepers:
Luca Boltshauser, Färjestad Karlstad (SWE)
Kevin Huber, EV Zug
Robert Kuonen, EV Zug
Melvin Nyffeler, GCK Lions Zurich

Defencemen:
Eliot Antonietti, Genève-Servette
Phil Baltisberger, GCK Lions Zurich
Isacco Dotti, HC Ambrì-Piotta
Lukas Frick, Kloten Flyers
Samuel Guerra, HC Davos
Cédric Hächler, GCK Lions Zurich
Dean Kukan, Luleå IF (SWE)
Valentin Lüthi, SCL Tigers Langnau
Christian Marti, Kloten Flyers
Mirco Müller, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Forwards:
Reto Amstutz, SC Bern
Sven Andrighetto, Rouyn Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
Lukas Balmelli, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
Alessio Bertaggia, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Christoph Bertschy, SC Bern
Daniele Grassi, HC Ambrì-Piotta
Robin Leone, Kloten Flyers
Lino Martschini, EV Zug
Jan Neuenschwander, HC Davos
Vincent Praplan, Kloten Flyers
Tanner Richard, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Lukas Sieber, HC Davos
Dario Simion, HC Lugano
Simon Sterchi, SCL Tigers Langnau
Sandro Zangger, GCK Lions Zurich


USA

Goalkeepers:
John Gibson, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Jon Gillies, Providence College (HEA)
Garret Sparks, Guelph Storm (OHL)  

Defencemen:
Shayne Gostisbehere, Union College (ECACH)
Matt Grzelcyk, Boston University (HEA)
Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Jake McCabe, Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA)  
Connor Murphy, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Mike Reilly, Univ. of Minnesota (WCHA)
Patrick Sieloff, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Brady Skjei, Univ. of Minnesota (WCHA)
Jacob Trouba, Univ. of Michigan (CCHA)

Forwards:
Riley Barber, Miami Univ. (CCHA)
Cole Bardreau, Cornell Univ. (ECACH)
Tyler Biggs, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
John Gaudreau, Boston College (HEA)
Rocco Grimaldi, Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA)
Ryan Hartman, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Sean Kuraly, Miami Univ. (CCHA)
Mario Lucia, Univ. of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Stefan Matteau, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
J.T. Miller, Connecticut Whale (AHL)
Stefan Noesen, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech Univ. (WCHA)
Vince Trocheck, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Jim Vesey, Harvard Univ. (ECACH)