That alleged bias of USA Hockey against American-born Canadian Hockey Leaguers?

Throw the idea out the window.

Headlined by Medicine Hat Tiger and Anaheim Ducks prospect Emerson Etem, a total of 11 CHL players were invited to USA Hockey’s National Junior Evaluation Camp Thursday. In all, 40 players were invited to the Lake Placid audition for the 2012 World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Calgary this December.

According to Chris Peters of The United States of Hockey and former public relations staffer for USA Hockey, any talk of an anti-CHL bias is preposterous.

“Going back to when I worked at USA Hockey, few things frustrated me more about the U.S. National Junior Team than the perceived bias against CHL players,” Peters said. “I think people confuse bias with familiarity. Before, the U.S. staff was certainly more familiar with kids that played college hockey, because they coached them or coached against them. I don’t think there are any legs to the apparent bias against the CHL. There was never a time when I worked there where a coach or anyone else on staff said, ‘This kid plays in the CHL, so we’re not taking him’.”

“There aren’t any grudges,” he added. “There isn’t a bias. USA Hockey takes the kids they feel best fill whatever role they need filled. End of story.”

Also among the list of CHL invitees is Jared Knight (London Knights), Phil Lane (Brampton Battalion), Austin Levi (Plymouth Whalers), Shane McColgan (Kelowna Rockets), Stefan Noesen (Plymouth Whalers), Shane Prince (Ottawa 67’s), Brandon Saad (Saginaw Spirit), Jarred Tinordi (London Knights), Vincent Trocheck (Saginaw Spirit) and Austin Watson (Peterborough Petes).

Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!