Princeton men's ice hockey head coach Ben Syer has been named associate coach with the U.S. Under-18 Select Team which will represent the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Brno, Czechia, and Trencín, Slovakia, from August 11-16.

This is Syer's first time selected to coach with a U.S. National Team, and he will head to Plymouth, Michigan for the selection camp July 28-August 3 before the group heads overseas.

"It is an honor to be invited to coach with Team USA and USA Hockey at an event with as much prestige as the Hlinka Gretzky Cup," said Syer. "I look forward to working alongside GM Rod Braceful, head coach Kevin Porter, and assistants Cody Chupp and Joe Howe as we identify and coach a team worthy of wearing the red, white and blue."

Syer and his fellow coaches will join 38 skaters at USA Hockey Arena for camp, eventually selecting a 23-man roster to compete at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The eight-team tournament will feature two groups; Group A and Group B. Group A will play its preliminary-round games in Brno, Czechia, at Winning Group Arena, while Group B will play its prelim games at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium in Trencín, Slovakia. The U.S. will compete in Group B against Germany, Sweden and Slovakia. Group A consists of Czechia, Canada, Finland and Switzerland.

All time, the U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team has won the tournament once (2003), while earning second-place finishes in 2016, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2000, 1996, 1994 and 1993.