Team USA has picked players to go for a three-peat at the world junior championship on home ice.
The Americans named a 28-player preliminary roster Monday ahead of a training camp, Dec. 15-23 in Duluth, Minn. The team will be cut to 25 players for the world juniors, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Nine players from last year’s team are back, including reigning world junior scoring leader Cole Hutson. The Americans also feature eight first-round NHL Draft picks, including James Hagens, Cole Eiserman and Will Horcoff.
Horcoff (University of Michigan, Pittsburgh Penguins pick) and fellow American team forward Max Plante (Minnesota-Duluth, Detroit Red Wings second-round pick) are tied for the NCAA scoring lead this season.
Hagens (Boston Bruins pick) has nine goals and seven assists in 14 games for Boston College, while Eiserman (New York Islanders pick) has seven goals and three assists in 10 games for Boston University.
Hutson (Washington Capitals second-round pick), a defenceman and brother of Montreal Canadiens blue-liner Lane Hutson, has seven goals and 11 assists in 15 games for Boston University.
The team’s biggest question likely is in net with Michigan State star Trey Augustine aging out. Caleb Heil (Madison, USHL), AJ Reyelts (Penticton, WHL) and Nick Kempf (Notre Dame, NCAA) are the three goalies in camp.
Meanwhile, 2026 first-round NHL Draft prospect Chase Reid (defenceman, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) will get a shot to compete for a spot.
Here is the preliminary roster:
Kamil Bednarik: Boston University (NCAA), New York Islanders (Round 2, 2024)
Trevor Connelly: Henderson (AHL), Vegas Golden Knights (Round 1, 2024)
Cole Eiserman: Boston University (NCAA), New York Islanders (Round 1, 2024)
James Hagens: Boston College (NCAA), Boston Bruins (Round 1, 2024)
Will Horcoff: University of Michigan (NCAA), Pittsburgh Penguins (Round 1, 2025)
Jacob Kvasnicka: Penticton Vees (WHL), New York Islanders (Round 7, 2025)
Ryker Lee: Michigan State (NCAA), Nashville Predators (Round 1, 2025)
Cole McKinney: Michigan (NCAA), San Jose Sharks (Round 2, 2025)
Brendan McMorrow: Denver (NCAA), Los Angeles Kings (Round 7, 2025)
LJ Mooney: Minnesota (NCAA), Montreal Canadiens (Round 4, 2025)
Max Plante: Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA), Detroit Red Wings (Round 2, 2024)
AJ Spellacy: Windsor Spitfires (OHL), Chicago Blackhawks (Round 3, 2024)
Teddy Stiga: Boston College (NCAA), Nashville Predators (Round 2, 2024)
Shane Vansaghi: Michigan State (NCAA), Philadelphia Flyers (Round 2, 2025)
Brodie Ziemer: Minnesota (NCAA), Buffalo Sabres (Round 3, 2024)
Asher Barnett: Michigan (NCAA), Edmonton Oilers (Round 5, 2025)
Henry Brzustewicz: London Knights (OHL), Los Angeles Kings (Round 1, 2025)
EJ Emery: North Dakota (NCAA), New York Rangers (Round 1, 2024)
Blake Fiddler: Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), Seattle Kraken (Round 2, 2025)
Logan Hensler: Wisconsin (NCAA), Ottawa Senators (Round 1, 2025)
Cole Hutson: Boston University (NCAA), Washington Capitals (Round 2, 2024)
Adam Kleber: Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA), Buffalo Sabres (Round 2, 2024)
Luke Osburn: Wisconsin (NCAA), Buffalo Sabres (Round 4, 2024)
Chase Reid: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL), eligible for 2026 NHL Draft
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen: Michigan (NCAA), eligible for 2026 NHL Draft
Caleb Heil: Madison Capitals (USHL), Tampa Bay Lightning (Round 7, 2025)
Nick Kempf: Notre Dame (NCAA), Washington Capitals (Round 4, 2024)
AJ Reyelts: Penticton Vees (WHL), eligible for 2026 NHL Draft
