2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting USA’s roster

Nov 12, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 12, 2025, 09:46 EST

2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting USA’s roster

Credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

The United States have their work cut out for them if they’re going to win their third straight World Junior Championship trophy.

That being said, the group doesn’t look too shabby. They had an ugly showing at the World Junior Summer Showcase, but there isn’t much you can take out of that event. It’s August, and nobody ices their best roster. Still, this isn’t as deep as the team in 2024 or 2025, so they’ll have to get creative.

Fortunately, a number of players deeper down in the projected lineup have had monster starts to 2025-26, whether that be in college or the CHL. There might be less pure skill, but the depth up front and on the blueline is nothing to scoff at. The USA Hockey National Team Development Program isn’t as dangerous as it once was, either, but there’s still some heavy representation here, regardless.

Let’s take a gander at what the American lineup could look like as the team hosts the event in Minnesota next month:

Forwards

Teddy Stiga (NSH) – James Hagens (BOS) – Brodie Ziemer (BUF)
Cole Eiserman (NYI) – Kamil Bednarik (NYI) – Trevor Connelly (VGK)
Ryker Lee (NSH) – Max Plante (DET) – Will Horcoff (PIT)
Shane Vansaghi (PHI) – Cole McKinney (SJS) – AJ Spellacy (CHI)
Cullen Potter (CGY), LJ Mooney (MTL)

Also considered: JP Hurlbert (2026), Will Zellers (BOS), Jack Murtagh (PHI), Kristian Epperson (LAK)

This lineup isn’t that different from the one I projected in the summer. They’re definitely going to miss guys like Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, but Hagens is back to center the top line alongside good buddies Ziemer and Stiga. The three played together at the USNTDP and looked great in their limited action at the WJSS. While it’s not the most skilled line ever crafted, their experience together and overall hockey sense make them significantly dangerous.

Speaking of chemistry, Eiserman and Bednarik play together at Boston University and should stick together here. Eiserman also has plenty of experience with Connelly, with the pair capable of high-octane offense every time they hit the ice.

I’ll call the third line “the breakout trio.” Lee was incredible at the WJSS, and while his early days at MSU haven’t been too fruitful, I still love his game. Plante, meanwhile, is the NCAA’s leading scorer – you can’t keep him off the roster, no matter what. Horcoff isn’t too far behind, and it feels like he gets better with every passing game.

The fourth-line center role felt a bit tricky, but I gave it to McKinney. He’s having an excellent season at Michigan already (everyone is, realistically), and his mix of two-way and penalty killing abilities will make him valuable. Spellacy and Vansaghi can bring the boom, giving the team more of a traditional fourth-line feel.

The most difficult placement came with Mooney – someone who absolutely lit things up in the summer. But you can’t build the team in December based on an exhibition tournament in August, and there have been plenty of others who have outperformed him in the NCAA this year. I think Mooney should make the team, but more as a 13th forward who can bring some energy in tight games or play higher up the lineup if needed. Potter was also excellent in the summer but has been underwhelming at times as a sophomore. But like with Mooney, I could see them trying him higher up the lineup thanks to his speed.

As for Hurlbert, he absolutely deserves to be on this team. But will they knock an older player off for someone who left the USNTDP a year early? We’ve seen CHLers stiffed from this team before and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that here again, regardless of how good Hurlbert has been.

Defensemen

Cole Hutson (WSH) – EJ Emery (NYR)
Luke Osburn (BUF) – Logan Hensler (OTT)
Will Skahan (UTA) – Blake Fiddler (SEA)
Adam Kleber (BUF) – Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen (Undrafted)

Also considered: Jacob Rombach (NSH), Henry Brzustewicz (LAK), Elliott Groenewold (BOS)

There’s a lot to like here, and I think there’s going to be a healthy competition for ice time. Hutson led all players with 11 points at last year’s tournament, which was one of MANY accolades he racked up as a first-year Boston University star. He also led the U-18s in defensive scoring in 2024 – partly thanks to the extra defensive help lent out by Emery. I’d love to see Hutson and Emery re-ignite the magic that made them so dangerous with the USNTDP, because they complement each other’s weaknesses better than anyone.

Two of the most impressive defenders at the WJSS were Osburn and Hensler, and both should make this team. Osburn was incredible at the World Junior A Challenge and has continued to impress in college. His play in Minnesota was promising, showing some serious skill from the point. Hensler, meanwhile, showed a bit more offensive prowess than I was expecting, giving Sens fans many reasons to smile at Ridder Arena. He hasn’t been as productive as Osburn at Wisconsin this year, but I love his defensive stability still.

For the rest of the group, Skahan and Kleber will be there for size, while Rheaume-Mullen’s breakout season (plus great showing at the WJSS) means he’ll be used in more of a puck-moving role. Fiddler continues to have a big presence with the Edmonton Oil Kings, as expected. Rheaume-Mullen is the most interesting one in the bottom-four, though. Has he played well enough to knock out players with more pedigree down a notch?

Goaltenders

Nick Kempf (WSH)
Caleb Heil (TBL)
Patrick Quinlan (2026)

Also considered: Jack Parsons (Undrafted), Kam Hendrickson (Undrafted)

After three years of Trey Augustine, get ready for… not that. USA’s goaltending depth isn’t deep, and none of them has played particularly well this year. Kempf should be the team’s No. 1 after impressing in previous national team events, but USA Hockey probably wants a bit more out of him in the NCAA. That being said, he’s capable of heavy workloads, and I think he’ll be just fine against average competition. The Americans also have a good D-corps in front of them, which should lessen the burden.

As for the backup job, Heil won gold at the World Junior A Challenge last year after putting up the best numbers in the tourney. USA Hockey has always liked him, even if he hasn’t played many meaningful moments in IIHF competition. He’s having a so-so year in the USHL, but I think he’ll make the WJC roster. As for Quinlan, he was decent with the USNTDP last year and is putting in some decent performances with Sarnia. There’s a good chance Quinlan is USA’s starter next year, so this could be a good experience for him.

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2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting USA’s roster

Forwards

Defensemen

Goaltenders

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