Frank Vatrano will head to Russia this week to compete for Team USA in the 2016 IIHF World Championship.
The 22-year-old forward was added to the national team roster Tuesday after completing a breakout rookie season in the Boston Bruins organization.
Vatrano, a native of East Longmeadow, Mass., led the American Hockey League with 36 goals in 36 games for the Providence Bruins while also tallying eight goals and three assists in 39 games with Boston. He was the co-recipient of the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award, given annually to the AHL’s most outstanding rookie.
The UMass product is one of four Massachusetts natives on the Team USA roster, along with Montreal Canadiens goalie Mike Condon (Holliston), Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin (Norwood) and former Bruins defenseman David Warsofsky (Marshfield).
The U.S., which earned bronze at the 2015 Worlds, begins its 2016 tournament slate Friday against defending gold medalist Canada.
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
