The U.S. National Junior Team is set. USA Hockey announced the 25 players that will be charged with attempting to go for an unprecedented American three-peat while also winning gold on home ice, which the U.S. has never done in the 50 years of the IIHF World Junior Championship. 

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Among the final roster is eight returnees from last year’s gold medal team, which became the first U.S. team to win a second straight gold medal at the World Juniors. That group is led by Cole Hutson (WSH), James Hagens (BOS), Max Plante (DET), Cole Eiserman (NYI), Teddy Stiga (NSH), Adam Kleber (BUF), Logan Hensler (OTT) and Brodie Ziemer (BUF).

Team USA hoped to have nine returnees, but Vegas Golden Knights first-round pick Trevor Connelly was injured in pre-tournament action and ruled out for the World Juniors.

USA had two additional cuts to make to finalize its roster, releasing Jacob Kvasnicka (NYI) and Blake Fiddler (SEA) from the team after Tuesday night's pre-tournament game.

Here’s a look at the 25 players representing the U.S. at the 2026 World Juniors which begins Dec. 26 in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Team USA Roster For 2026 World Juniors

Forwards

• Kamil Bednarik, C, Boston University (NYI)
• Cole Eiserman, LW, Boston University (NYI)
• James Hagens, C, Boston College (BOS)
• Will Horcoff, LW, Michigan (PIT)
• Ryker Lee, RW, Michigan State (NSH)
• Cole McKinney, C, Michigan (SJS)
• Brendan McMorrow, RW, Denver (LAK)
• LJ Mooney, RW, Minnesota (MTL)
• Max Plante, C/W, Minnesota Duluth (DET)
• AJ Spellacy, C/W, Windsor Spitfires (CHI)
• Teddy Stiga, C/W, Boston College (NSH)
• Shane Vansaghi, LW, Michigan State (PHI)
• Will Zellers, LW, North Dakota (BOS)
• Brodie Ziemer, RW, Minnesota (BUF)

Defense

• Asher Barnett, LHD, Michigan (EDM)
• EJ Emery, RHD, North Dakota (NYR)
• Logan Hensler, RHD, Wisconsin (OTT)
• Cole Hutson, LHD, Boston University (WSH)
• Adam Kleber, RHD, Minnesota Duluth (BUF)
• Luke Osburn, LHD, Wisconsin (BUF)
• Chase Reid, RHD, Soo Greyhounds (2026)
• Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LHD, Michigan

Goalies

• Caleb Heil, Madison Capitols (TBL)
• Nick Kempf, Notre Dame (WSH)
• Brady Knowling, U.S. National Under-18 Team (2026)

Team USA Final Roster Analysis

USA has a solid roster and one that has enough to compete in this tournament. It’s not close on paper to the last two gold-medal teams despite a high number of returning players. The forward group should score, but defensive depth and goaltending concerns are going to be a big storyline for this squad.

Cole Hutson and James Hagens can be real drivers for this team, while Max Plante has emerged as one of college hockey’s best players this season. The loss of Trevor Connelly to injury stings because it changes the way USA will structure its top six forwards, but there should be some adequate replacements to pick up the scoring pace.

USA lacks size up front, outside of its fourth line, but there's a good dose of skill and tenacity which can make up for it. USA's center depth is of enough concern that Max Plante has been moved to the middle and it appears USA is still trying to sort out its bottom six centers in terms of where they'll play based on the pre-tournament games. 

On the blue line, my expectation is major, major minutes for the top pairing of Cole Hutson and Adam Kleber in the biggest games. The blue line looked to be one area the team still needed more time to gel with how they looked in the pre-tournament games. That will have to come together quickly if USA wants any chance at the historic three-peat.

Wisconsin teammates Logan Hensler and Luke Osburn could see some additional minutes as well, with Osburn potentially bing the No. 2 power play defenseman as he was the most effective option for USA there in the pre-tournament games. Though keep an eye on 2026 NHL Draft eligible Chase Reid also getting looks with the No. 2 PP. 

Meanwhile, in net, the U.S. probably doesn’t have a true No. 1. All of their goalies could see action in the tournament with Nick Kempf looking most likely to be the guy, but who’s to say underager Brady Knowling can’t steal the spotlight? He’s the biggest of USA’s netminders and has shone brightly in some big games this year at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the CHL USA Top Prospects Game. Meanwhile, Caleb Heil has looked sharp in camp and could be called upon, too. That position will be USA’s biggest question, but if someone gets hot, anything can happen.

This team has enough to contend, but will not enter as the favorites on paper. Despite that, USA has annually found a way to make an impact in this tournament and this year's team should be no different, especially with some home crowd support. A lot will have to go right for this team to capture that historic gold medal, but they have enough pieces to suggest they can go right.

The U.S. will open tournament play against Germany on Friday at 6 p.m. ET in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

FloHockey will have on-site coverage of the entire 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Team USA World Junior Championship 2026 Schedule

Friday, December 26

• 6:00 p.m. ET - Germany vs USA

Saturday, December 27

• 6:00 p.m. ET - USA vs Switzerland

Monday, December 29

• 6:00 p.m. ET - Slovakia vs USA

Wednesday, December 31

• 6:00 p.m. ET - USA vs Sweden

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FloHockey will be on site for complete coverage of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can expect game-by-game coverage of both Team USA and Team Canada from FloHockey's experts, interviews with key players and coaches and much more. Follow FloHockey's WJC coverage here.

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