USA Hockey on Monday named the 29 players who make up the preliminary roster for the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team that will play at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

Of the 29 players, 18 are currently on NCAA rosters.

The final roster will be announced Dec. 22. The tournament runs Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Calgary.

“We’re very excited to see what this group of players brings to camp,” said U.S. National Junior Team GM Jim Johannson in a news release. “The talent and skill that all of these players bring will make trimming the roster tough, but we look forward to the process.”

Nebraska-Omaha head coach Dean Blais, who guided Team USA to the gold medal in 2010, is back to lead the United States this year. Assistant coaches are Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin, Ohio State assistant Joe Exter and Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep coach Tom Ward.

Among those invited to the camp are eight returning players from the bronze medal-winning 2011 team, including defensemen Justin Faulk (Minnesota-Duluth, participation will be determined by Carolina Hurricanes), Derek Forbort (North Dakota) and Jon Merrill (Michigan) and forwards Nick Bjugstad (Minnesota), Charlie Coyle (Boston University) and Jason Zucker (Denver).

Cornell goalie Andy Iles was also named the team’s emergency goaltender, but will not attend Team USA’s pre-tournament camp Dec. 17 in Canmore, Alta. The other two goalies, Jack Campbell and John Gibson originally committed to Michigan, but are now both playing in the Ontario Hockey League.