McBrayer named to Team USA

November 16, 2022

Longtime AAA Blue Jackets defenseman Nathan McBrayer has been selected to Team USA at the upcoming World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ontario from December 8-18, 2022. The U.S. Junior Select Team is comprised of players that currently compete in junior hockey leagues across the United States.

McBrayer is currently in his second season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). In 83 career USHL games, he has tallied 7 goals, 28 assists and a +14 rating. Prior to Muskegon, he played 7 seasons in the AAA Blue Jackets program, serving as team captain of the 2004 squad and leading them to a district championship during its 15O season.

The Columbus native recently signed his National Letter of Intent to play Division I college hockey at Ohio State (Big Ten).

McBrayer will become the 13th member of the AAA Blue Jackets program to represent his country, joining the likes of Sean Kuraly, Connor Murphy, Jack Roslovic and Carson Meyer. Both Kuraly (2011) and Meyer (2016) won bronze medals at the World Junior A Challenge.

Since the inaugural World Junior A Challenge tournament in 2006, Team USA has captured eight tournament crowns (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018) along with a single second-place finish and four third-place finishes. The tournament was cancelled by Hockey Canada in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.