University of Minnesota Athletics
Bjugstad, Haula to Play in World Junior Championship
12/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Bjugstad, who is from Blaine, Minn., will represent the defending champion United States, while his Gopher teammate Haula will play for Finland. Haula, who attended high school at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minn., is from Pori, Finland.
Bjugstad, who is 6'4", 204 pounds, participated in the 2010 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., this past summer and led Team USA with seven goals in seven games. He also represented the United States at the 2008 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Prievidza, Slovakia and at the 2009 Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia. Bjugstad has two goals and two assists in 13 games for Minnesota this year. The 2010 first-round NHL draft pick by the Florida Panthers also missed five games this season with mononucleosis.
Haula, who is 5'10", 184 pounds, totaled four goals and four assists in 12 games playing for Finland in two Under-18 World Junior Championships and helped the team claim a Bronze Medal in 2009. He also played for Finland in 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and tied for fifth in the tournament with 10 points (two goals and eight assists). Haula leads the Gophers with 12 assists in 18 games this year and is tied for third on the team with 15 points. He was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round, 182nd overall of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
The two Gopher teammates will face one another as the United States and Finland play at 8 p.m. on Dec. 26, at HSBC Arena. It is the first game of the tournament for both teams.
