Keegan Ford has often played in the shadow of his older brother Jason, but later this summer, the younger Ford will emerge as one of the top defenders in the United States as he will take the ice for the Team USA U-17 team in the Five Nations Tournament held in the Czech Republic.
The junior-to-be is listed on the USA Hockey site as one of the top three defensemen on the seven-man D roster.
Ford (5-9, 180) scored an amazing 74 points last year for the Warriors from his spot on the blueline, including 33 goals and 41 assists.
Team USA will practice at the Washington Capitols training facility before traveling to the Czech Republic.
They will play against the Czech Republic in an exhibition game on Sunday, August 5. Then after two days off, Team USA will face Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia in a tough four-day stretch.
"I'm really excited to represent my country and to get the chance to play with some of the top players in my age group," said Ford. "Competing against the best players from other countries gives me the chance to see where I'm at."
All Team USA games are scheduled to be played in Chomutov, located about 60 miles northwest of Prague.
Next season Ford will line up for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, having signed a tender in March prior to the USHL Futures Draft. (Players who have been tendered are required to play in 55% of the team's games, barring injury.)
Keegan Ford
Date | Time (CDT) | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Sun, Aug 5 | 10:00am | Czech Republic (exhibition) | W, 6-2 |
Wed, Aug 8 | 11:00am | Germany | W, 6-2 |
Thur, Aug 9 | 11:00am | Switzerland | W, 5-0 |
Fri, Aug 10 | 11:00am | Czech Republic | W, 5-2 |
Sat, Aug 11 | 5:00am | Slovakia | W, 4-2 |