Two players with California youth hockey ties – forwards Joey Cassetti and Brannon McManus – were named to the U.S. National Under-17 Team that will compete in the upcoming Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, which will run from Dec. 16-20 in Slovakia.

Cassetti, a former San Jose Jr. Shark from Pleasanton, is skating this season with the U.S. National Program’s Under-17 Team. He has committed to play his NCAA Division I hockey at Boston College.

McManus, a former LA Select from Newport Beach, is playing this season for the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers. He will attend and play his NCAA Division I hockey the University of Minnesota following his junior career.

Team USA competed against teams from Russia, Slovakia and Switzerland in the round-robin tournament.

In addition, Corona’s Cayla Barnes was named to the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team that will compete in the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women’s World Championship, which will run from Jan. 8-15, 2016 in St. Catharines, Ontario.

An accomplished ice and inline player, Barnes is in her junior year at New Hampshire’s New Hampton School and also playing in the New England Women’s Hockey League on the East Coast Wizards’ 16U AAA team.

Barnes, a defenseman who has committed to play her NCAA Division I hockey at Boston College, was a member of last year’s U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team that celebrated a gold-medal performance in Buffalo.