Chicago Blackhawks prospects Evan Barratt and Chad Krys were two of 10 players cut by the United States from the World Junior Summer Showcase development camp Wednesday.
There are 34 players left at camp, which runs through Saturday. USA Hockey sent home Krys and Tyler Inamoto (Florida Panthers) due to injury for precautionary reasons.
The event is the first step in picking the U.S. roster for the 2018 World Junior Championship, which will be Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Buffalo and Orchard Park, New York.
Krys, a 2016 second-round selection by the Blackhawks, missed this past week with an upper-body injury and U.S. coach Bob Motkzo was impressed with what he saw from the rising sophomore defenseman at Boston University.
“The biggest thing is, you’re not going to mess around for the summer. This is part of the process,” Motkzo said. “What an advantage all of us get here, Sweden, Finland, Canada and ourselves, but if somebody’s injured, even the littlest of (things), you’re going to take precautionary (measures). We’re going to get to watch all of our players all through October, November and even early December.
“On a positive note, he was very noticeable. It’s too bad. He was having an outstanding game when it happened, so we’re excited about him.”
As a freshman, Krys had five goals and six assists in 39 games for the Terriers.
Barratt, a third-round pick in this year’s draft, had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over Finland to open the tournament. He also assisted on a goal in the U.S.’ 8-2 victory over Canada Red.
The Penn State commit scored 56 points in 63 games with the U.S. national development program last season. He also recorded nine goals and 15 assists in 26 United States Hockey League games.