NIAGARA FALLS — Nothing’s set in stone. No locker stall at HSBC Arena has been assigned to Adam Clendening. No uniform number.

But as each hurdle en route to the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship approaches, the Niagara Falls native keeps handling them in stride.

And having the highest scoring American defenseman in history, who happens to be a Sabres Hall of Famer, to bounce ideas of certainly hasn’t hurt.

Clendening shined at the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid last week, finishing his three starts with four points and showing that he belongs with the world’s best when they convene here this winter.

During the camp, Clendening leaned on another former defenseman who relied on quick feet and an instinctive first pass — U.S. assistant coach Phil Housley. Although Clendening had yet to be born when Housley was dealt away from Buffalo, he said the two hit it off during the camp, which included intrasquad scrimmages and games against Sweden and Finland.

“He talked to me about the area a little,” Clendening said of Housley. “We had a chemistry, for sure. I heard he was a big fan of the way I played and that’s not a bad guy to copy your game after.”

Clendening even showed a little grit, getting ejected from a 6-3 victory over Finland for a cross-checking penalty. Still, he knows the key to his game is moving the puck, and he had little trouble against the top-notch competition.

“Everything seemed to be clicking,” said Clendening, who is preparing for his freshman year at Boston University. “I think I played pretty well.”

Well enough, in fact, to survive the first cut that took place midway through the camp. Even though he’s been a standout on a pair of U.S. teams at younger ages, Clendening said he was still uneasy about looking at the updated roster.

“I was a little nervous, because any time you can get cut,” he said. “You never know what the guys are thinking.”

Keith Allain, the head coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team, said choosing the final roster spots won’t be easy. 

“We’re going to have some very difficult decisions over the next few months but I’m happy with what our guys were able to accomplish here this week,” Allain said after an 8-3 win in the camp’s final game against Finland.

Now, Clendening heads off to BU for a season of Hockey East play. He’ll get invited back for a camp in December at which the final spots will be picked. And if he makes the roster, he’ll likely be the poster boy of the event, giving Western New York fans an area product to cheer for. Since he’s been away from home since he was 14, the year when he started playing for the Toronto Marlboros, heading to college isn’t quite as daunting.

Still, with the World Juniors on the horizon, the next few months will be filled with anxiety.

“I’m probably not as shellshocked as other guys because I’ve been away. I even went up there and took some summer classes already,” Clendening said. “But it’s different. Before, when I was living with host families, someone would do my laundry and help with things like that. Now, it’s every man for himself.

“And nothing’s guaranteed. I still have to make the team, but I have been thinking, what if I do actually get named? If I do get named, it’ll really start sinking in.”