George Sipple

Detroit Free Press

The CCM line won’t play again for Michigan, but the trio of forwards were picked to represent the U.S. at the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Russia.

USA Hockey announced the first 13 players for the team and it includes Kyle Connor (Shelby Township), Tyler Motte (St. Clair) and JT Compher (Northbrook, Ill.)

Connor announced Monday he would forgo his final three years of eligibility at Michigan to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL's Winnipeg Jets. Connor led all NCAA Division 1 players with 35 goals and 71 games this season. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, and was named the Big Ten freshman of the year and player of the year, and the Big Ten tournament MVP.

Motte scored 32 goals and 24 assists for 56 points in 38 games for the Wolverines. He recently announced he would forgo his senior year to instead turn pro. A 2013 fourth-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks , he agreed to an amateur tryout with the Blackhawk’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He has one goal and one assist in two games with Rockford.

Compher, U-M’s junior captain, hasn’t yet decided whether he’ll return for his senior year or turn pro. A first-round pick by the Sabres in 2013, his NHL rights now belong to the Colorado Avalanche.

Compher led the nation with 47 assists. He also chipped in 16 goals for 63 points in 38 games.

The other players selected are: Montreal goaltender Mike Condon, Columbus forward Nick Foligno, Carolina defenseman Noah Hanifin, Edmonton forward Matt Hendricks, New Jersey goaltender Keith Kinkaid, Edmonton forward Patrick Maroon, Zurich Lions forward Auston Matthews, Buffalo defenseman Jack McCabe, Arizona defenseman Connor Murphy and Ottawa defenseman Chris Wideman.

Compher, Foligno, Hanifin, Matthews, McCabe, Motte and Murphy all previously played for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, formerly based in Ann Arbor and now based at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.

The men’s world championship will be held May 6-22 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.

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