ISU hockey head coach Al Murdoch has known since June that he would lead a national All-star team to battle at the World University Games next month. Now, he finally knows who those players will be.During winter break, a panel of eight coaches from the American Collegiate Hockey Association picked the athletes that will represent the United States in the world-class event. The event will take place Feb. 7 through 17 in southern Poland. Of the 22 players on the roster, five are from the Cyclone squad.”It’s almost overwhelming to think that our program is so well-respected around the country that we can show the amount of representation that we can,” Murdoch said.ISU defensemen Tory Larson and Jason McCollum are two of eight backline players that the committee selected.”Getting a chance to represent your country for something is always pretty exciting,” Larson said. “It’s a great accomplishment.””It’s a pretty big honor to be picked and know that other coaches respect you as a player,” McCollum said.Of the twelve forwards, Nat Little, Andrew Murdoch and Mark Krueger will also represent Iowa State at the games.”I think it’s a big opportunity,” Little said. “I’m looking forward to playing against some international competition.”This experience will provide something different for the Americans due to the style of hockey that is played across the Atlantic. The players are looking forward to playing against the European system, as well as seeing another culture.”As far as I know, the European style of hockey is a lot more open, a lot faster and not as physical,” Larson said. “This is pretty much my first time out of North America, so I’m really excited about that. Hopefully, on our off days we’ll be able to tour some of the areas around there.”McCollum said he has never dealt with a competition like this before and expects there to be different levels of skill between the teams.”We’ve got to make up for it with hard work and physical play,” McCollum said. “I know I want to represent my country pretty well, so I’m just going to lay it all out on the line.”The assembled team marks the first time an ACHA squad will represent the U.S. in the bi-annual event. Before this, the squad was comprised of NCAA players whose highest finish was fourth.”This is a feather in the cap to have people say that ACHA hockey has the amount of quality to compete at this level,” Murdoch said.Larson said no matter how the team finishes, the opportunity will give Iowa State a lot of respect.Even though the All-star squad has not practiced together that much, Little said these league opponents should get together without much problem.”A lot of the people who made this team have played in the league for two or three years and we’ve seen a lot of each other,” he said. “I think that’s going to help when we play together because we know a little about each other’s style.”Although the trip will be a break from school life, the players will not be away from the classroom.”This trip must be educational,” Murdoch said. “The players have to bring their books and attend lectures every day. They also have the opportunity of seeing guest lecturers from the other competing countries.””It’s a great pleasure to be coaching young men who want to be great students, as well as great athletes.”The hockey competition will actually start Feb. 6, a day before the opening ceremonies take place in Zakopane. Group B, which contains the United States, Croatia, Ukraine, Russia and the Czech Republic, will play their round-robin games in Krynica.The competition will end with consolation and medal-round games Feb. 14 through 16 in Nowy Targ.