NIAGARA FALLS — Twelve months after getting cut for the first time in his life, things are different for Adam Clendening.

First, the Wheatfield native finished a strong freshman season on the blueline at Boston University, raising his draft stock and getting snagged by the Chicago Blackhawks early in the second round (36^th overall).

He shined in the Team USA Under-20 camp this summer and, a year after being one of the final cuts from the World Junior Championship roster, Clendening will be one of Team USA’s biggest assets on the point in Alberta over the next two weeks.

“It felt different this time,” Clendening said. “I think it’s just the right time. I’m just kind of maturing as a player and as my career goes on. I think everything is just starting to fall into place now.”

Clendening has certainly kicked his game up a notch after watching the World Juniors unfold without him in Buffalo last year. Another year of slick assists and good skating meant not worrying “what you could have done better” this time.

A little luck always helps, of course.

Some top talent on the back end will be missing for the Americans, which means more responsibility for Clendening. The Carolina Hurricanes are keeping blueliner Justin Faulk, making him inelligable for the tournament, which runs today until Jan. 5 in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.

Team USA defenseman Seth Jones suffered an upper-body injury in an exhibition game against Russia on Wednesday,  just hours before the final 22-man roster was to be announced.

“You never want to see anyone hurt, but those are guys that play a similar style to me,” Clendening said.

Clendening got a few bumps and bruises of his own in the 6-3 exhibition loss to Russia. Twice he was hit with enough force to knock his helmet off. Once he was sandwiched by two Russians, Sergei Barbashev and Yaroslav Kosov.

A Canadian photographer caught a snapshot of the three players colliding, the American’s helmet empty between two Russian elbows as Clendening goes to the ice. It wasn’t enough to knock him out of the game, but it was cause for concern for his mother, Ann.

“She saw the picture,” Clendening said. “I have a black eye. I know my mom’s pretty nervous but I can handle myself out here.”

Clendening and his family know that sacrifices are necessary to succeed at this level. The 19-year-old spent Christmas practicing with the team in Camrose, Alberta. Holiday dinner with the Americans may lack the family charm most enjoy on Christmas, but the Clendenings agreed it’s the best holiday they’ve had in years.

“It’s a better one than last year,” Adam’s father Frank Clendening said. “It’s really a thrill. We’re very happy for him. It’s not every day someone makes a national team.”

The Clendenings sure found that out last year. This time, they said, the over 2,000-mile trip to Edmonton to see Adam don the red, white and blue will be well worth it.

“They’re just glad I made the team,” Adam said. “Obviously it would have been nice last year, it was right there, it wouldn’t have been hard on us for traveling but I think they’re just happy that I’m here.”

Frank Clendening said the family will fly to Alberta on Wednesday in time to see Team USA take on Finland. The Americans begin tournament play at 8 tonight against Denmark. Once they “chase down a rental car,” Frank said, they expect to stay for the rest of the tournament.

Clendening skated with Jarrod Tinordi in the team’s final exhibition game with Slovakia. On the power play, however, he’ll be the only defenseman on the ice. The sophomore has a goal and 12 points in 16 games with the Terriers this season and said he’s comfortable on the point for Team USA.

Scoring and using his speed are a given, but Clendening hopes to dish out more damage on the back end than he’s taken thus far.

“I always tell people he’ll lead the team in penalties and he’ll be damn close to leading the team in points,” Frank Clendening said.

An 8 p.m. showdown with Team Canada on New Year’s Eve is expected to be the highlight of group play. Team USA, which won the bronze on home ice last year, is expected to vie for the gold along with Canada, who won silver in Buffalo last winter. Russia shocked the Canadians in the finals and is back in North America as defending world champions.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re playing in an NHL building and I guess it’s sold out. It’s like 17-18,000 people,” Clendening said. “We have expectations for the gold and so do a lot of other countries. We’ll just play hockey and see where that takes us.”