The United States announced their roster that will defend their gold medal. The excitement continues to fill the air for each team as they finalize rosters are prepare for the medal chase. Team USA is bringing a lot of members from last year’s gold medal team as they look to remain golden in this year’s tournament
Goaltenders
Trey Augustine, Sam Hildebrandt, Hampton Slukynsky
Trey Augustine has played 14 games for Michigan State University of the NCAA this year. He’s posted a 1.98 goals-against average (GAA) and a save percentage (SV%) of .930%. Augustine brings experience representing Team USA at the World Junior Championship (WHC) U20 tournament in 2024 where he helped Team USA win the gold medal. Augustine was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (41st overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Sam Hildebrandt has played 21 games for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this year. He’s posted a 2.93 GAA and a .903 SV%. Hildebrandt was the need-be backup in the 2024 U20 WJC for Team USA where they won gold. Hildebrandt went undrafted in the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Drafts/
Hampton Slukynsky has played seven games for Western Michigan University of the NCAA this year. He’s posted a 1.84 GAA and a .941 SV%. Slukynsky is the projected third-string goaltender for Team USA as his only WJC experience came in his one-game shutout performance in the 2023 U18 tournament where he was a part of the gold medal-winning USA team.
Defencemen
Zeev Buium, Paul Fischer, Drew Fortescue, Logan Hensler, Cole Hutson, Adam Kleber, Aram Minnetian, Colin Ralph
Zeev Buium is a defenseman for the University of Denver of the NCAA. He’s posted 20 points (4G, 16A) in 18 games this season. The 6-foot defender is a 2024 12th overall draft pick by the Minnesota Wild and last represented Team USA at the 2024 WJC U20 tournament where he won a gold medal.
Paul Fischer is a defenseman for the University of Notre Dame of the NCAA. He’s posted nine points (0G, 9A) in 18 games this season. The 6-foot-1 defender is a 2023 fifth-round (138th overall) draft pick by the Edmonton Oilers and last represented Team USA at the 2023 WJC U18 tournament where he won a gold medal.
Drew Fortescue is a defenseman for Boston College of the NCAA. He’s posted 20 points (4G, 16A) in 18 games this season. The 6-foot-2 defender is a 2023 third-round (90th overall) draft pick by the New York Rangers and last represented Team USA at the 2024 WJC U20 tournament where he won a gold medal.
Logan Hensler is a defenseman for the University of Wisconsin of the NCAA. He’s posted seven points (0G, 7A) in 17 games this season. The 6-foot-2 defender is a top prospect eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team USA at the 2024 WJC U18 tournament where he won a silver medal.
Cole Hutson is a defenseman for Boston University of the NCAA. He’s posted 14 points (4G, 10A) in 16 games this season. The 5-foot-10 defender is a 2024 second-round (43rd overall) draft pick by the Washington Capitals and last represented Team USA at the 2024 WJC U18 tournament where he won a silver medal.
Adam Kleber is a defenseman for the University of Minnesota-Duluth of the NCAA. He’s posted one assist in 15 games this season. The 6-foot-6 defender is a 2024 second-round (42nd overall) draft pick by the Buffalo Sabres and has never represented Team USA in international competitions.
Aram Minnetian is a defenseman for Boston College of the NCAA. He’s posted five points (1G, 4A) in 16 games this season. The 5-foot-11 defender is a 2023 fourth-round (125th overall) draft pick by the Minnesota Wild and last represented Team USA at the 2023 WJC U18 tournament where he won a gold medal.
Colin Ralph is a defenseman for St Cloud State University of the NCAA. He’s posted four points (1G, 3A) in 17 games this season. The 6-foot-5 defender is a 2024 second-round (48th overall) draft pick by the St. Louis Blues and has never represented Team USA in international competitions.
Forwards
Austin Burnevik, Trevor Connelly, Cole Eiserman, James Hagens, Ryan Leonard, Oliver Moore, Danny Nelson, Gabe Perrault, Teddy Stiga, Brandon Svoboda, Carey Terrance, Joey Willis, Brodie Ziemmer
Austin Burnevik is a forward for St Cloud State University in the NCAA. He’s posted 16 points (9G, 7A) in 17 games this season. The 6-foot-4 forward was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round (182nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He has not represented Team USA in international competitions.
Trevor Connelly is a forward for Providence College in the NCAA. He’s posted 11 points (3G, 8A) in 12 games this season. The 6-foot-1 forward was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights at 19th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U18 WJC where he won a silver medal.
Cole Eiserman is a forward for Boston University in the NCAA. He’s posted 15 points (9G, 6A) in 16 games this season. The 6-foot forward was drafted by the New York Islanders at 20th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U18 WJC where he won a silver medal.
James Hagens is a forward for Boston College in the NCAA. He’s posted 20 points (5G, 15A) in 16 games this season. The 5-foot-10 forward is a top prospect eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U18 WJC where he won a silver medal.
Ryan Leonard is a forward for Boston College in the NCAA. He’s posted 19 points (12G, 7A) in 16 games this season. The 6-foot forward was drafted by the Washington Capitals at eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U20 WJC where he won a gold medal.
Oliver Moore is a forward for the University of Minnesota in the NCAA. He’s posted 17 points (5G, 12A) in 20 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks at 19th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U20 WJC where he won a gold medal.
Danny Nelson is a forward for the University of Notre Dame in the NCAA. He’s posted 13 points (8G, 5A) in 18 games this season. The 6-foot-3 forward was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round (49th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U20 WJC where he won a gold medal.
Gabe Perrault is a forward for Boston University in the NCAA. He’s posted 11 points (4G, 7A) in 16 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward was drafted by the New York Rangers at 23rd overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U20 WJC where he won a gold medal.
Teddy Stiga is a forward for Boston College in the NCAA. He’s posted 23 points (7G, 16A) in 16 games this season. The 5-foot-10 forward was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round (55th overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U18 WJC where he won a silver medal.
Brandon Svoboda is a forward for Boston University in the NCAA. He’s posted 3 points (3G, 0A) in 11 games this season. The 6-foot-3 forward was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the third round (71st overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He has never represented Team USA in international competitions.
Carey Terrance is a forward for the Erie Otters of the OHL. He’s posted 26 points (14G, 12A) in 29 games this season. The 6-foot-1 forward was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (59th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2023 U18 WJC where he won a gold medal.
Joey Willis is a forward for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. He’s posted 34 points (17G, 17A) in 26 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (111th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He has never represented Team USA in international competitions.
Brodie Ziemer is a forward for the University of Minnesota in the NCAA. He’s posted 11 points (8G, 3A) in 20 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round (71st overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team USA at the 2024 U18 WJC where he won a silver medal.
Final Thoughts on Team USA’s Roster
Like Team Canada’s final roster, Team USA had some surprising cuts, but none more surprising to me than EJ Emery. Will Smith was left off the invitee list and now we have the final roster.
This is a deep and talented team that Team USA built to compete for gold for the second consecutive year. There are lots of returning names and players with crucial U18 experience, but the biggest returning name on the list is Trey Augustine. USA’s biggest asset in this tournament is their goaltender and if they want to compete for gold, Augustine is their golden goose to do it.
Line Projections
TBD
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