Chicago Blackhawks prospects Josh Ess and Evan Barratt were among 42 players named to the United States’ roster for the World Junior Summer Showcase on Friday.
The showcase will be July 28 to Aug. 4 in Kamloops, British Columbia, at the Sandman Centre. Players will be auditioning for a spot on Team USA’s roster for the 2019 World Junior Championship, which runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2019, in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.
Ess, a fifth-round pick in 2017, scored two goals and assisted on two others in 33 games during his freshman season at Wisconsin. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound defenseman is expected to see an increased role next season for the Badgers.
Barratt, a 2017 third rounder, tallied 11 goals and 18 points in 32 games for Penn State during his freshman campaign. The 6-foot, 183 pound center attended the showcase last year, but was cut after two games. He scored a goal assisted on another in a win over Finland to open the tournament and had a helper in a victory over Canada Red.
Chicago area natives Cole Coskey (Zion), Sean Dhooghe (Aurora), Jack Drury (Winnetka) and Joe Keane (Chicago) also made the roster.