Chiefs’ Johnson makes first cut

Picked up from Gregg Drinnan’s blog.

F Luke Walker of the Portland Winterhawks and F Tyler Johnson of the Spokane Chiefs are two of 14 forwards still with the U.S. national junior team after six players were dropped from the selection camp roster Sunday. (They have been playing on the same line.)

Walker was a scratch Sunday as the U.S. national junior team beat the U of North Dakota Fighting Sioux 4-2 in an exhibition game in Grand Forks, N.D.

The U.S. roster still includes eight defencemen and two goaltenders. The U.S. had 30 players in camp, now is down to 24 and will select 22 to its final roster.

The U.S. team is held its selection camp in Grand Forks, at Ralph Engelstad Arena and left for Regina Monday morning.

The U.S. team will head for Regina on Monday morning. The U.S. won’t name its final roster until Wednesday, following a Tuesday night exhibition game with the Czech Republic.

Walker is in the U.S. camp despite having had surgery to repair facial injuries after he was struck by a puck during a game Dec. 8.