Breaking down USA’s 2024 World Junior Championship selection camp roster

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
Breaking down USA’s 2024 World Junior Championship selection camp roster
Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

USA Hockey announced its camp roster for the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship, and it’s stacked.

The Americans always have high expectations, but they’ve fallen flat ever since 2021. They fell apart in the playoff round last year, but ultimately finished with bronze after a wild victory over Sweden.

This year? They can’t let that happen again. And I wouldn’t bet against them, either.

Training camp will run from Dec. 14-16 in Plymouth, Michigan, with the team bringing a 25-man roster to Sweden later this month. They can only register 23 players at a time, but it’s often that teams will bring two extra just in case of injuries.

Their final roster is expected to be announced on Dec. 17, with just four cuts expected. The team will then head to Sweden to play the hosts in an exhibition game on Dec. 21 and Canada two nights later. USA will open the tournament up with a game against Norway on Dec. 26.

Here’s a full look at their roster, and a breakdown of what you need to know:

Initial reaction

We knew this team was the favorite to win gold, and now they’ve got the roster to prove it. Even with some interesting omissions, we’re looking at one of the deepest groups in the tournament. Cutter Gauthier, Jummy Snuggerud and Rutger McGroarty (if fully healthy) will be three returning players tasked with leading the team offensively.

There’s the all-Boston College trio of Gabe Perreault, Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. I doubt the American coaching staff will split them up because they’ve been one of the most dominant lines in college hockey after breaking records all year long with the USNTDP last year.

Even the depth is solid, too. Danny Nelson is an underrated two-way prospect who gives it his all. Gavin Hayes had an excellent summer camp, landing hits, making passes and creating havoc in front of the net. Oliver Moore might be the fastest player outside of the NHL, and his work ethic matches that.

Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect James Hagens might be USA’s top center. He was great at the summer tournament and has carried that momentum ever since with the USNTDP. He plays a game similar to Jack Hughes, and despite being the youngest player at camp, there’s no doubt he’ll have no issue adjusting to the challenge.

Three players to watch

Will Smith, C: Few players at his age think the game like Smith does. The San Jose Sharks product is an excellent distributor and can take over games at ease. I was hoping he’d make the team last year, but his inexperience fell through. This time? With Perreault and Leonard by his side, I fully expect 10-plus points out of Smith.

Cutter Gauthier, LW: Gauthier was USA’s top forward at the World Junior Summer Showcase and has continued on with his hot play in college. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick was excellent at the World Championship against men last spring, and I fully expect him to use all of his experience to challenge for the top scorer award.

Lane Hutson, LHD: The Montreal Canadiens prospect will be USA’s No. 1 defenseman this year, and might even be the favorite to win the tournament’s top blueliner award. He’s so dynamic, can control the power play and is built for highlight-reel moments. There are questions about his actual defensive play, but I’m not concerned about that at an event like this.

The biggest omissions

Top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Cole Eiserman was a bit of a longshot to make USA, given his game is built around offense and that’s about it. While he’s on pace for over 70 goals with the USTNDP this year, he relies on his shot to do the heavy lifting, and his overall game can lack at points. It would have been fun to see him and James Hagens play together again, but they’re not even on the same line with the USNTDP right now. Assuming Eiserman stays the course and doesn’t go straight to the NHL right away next year, he’ll be a big part of USA’s roster next year.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz was also not invited, which, after a strong showing at the summer camp, is a surprise. Mix in the fact he’s third in OHL scoring among ALL players and his history with the UNSTDP, and it’s definitely odd. But the team has a very offensively minded blueline, including Lane Hutson and Seamus Casey. I always thought he wasn’t going to be more than a seventh defender on this team but to not even make the camp roster? That’s something.

In a similar vein, offense won’t be an issue for the Americans, which might be why Quentin Musty was viewed as being on the outside. The Sudbury Wolves forward is on pace for nearly 50 goals and 115 points, which is absurd. In five games since Nov. 24, he has 17 points, including two five-point efforts. He’ll be in the top six in 2025, no doubt about it.

And then there’s Charlie Stramel. He’s having an ugly year with Wisconsin, so I get it. But it’s rare to see a returning player not come back, and ever rarer when they’ve already made the team twice. I thought he looked good at the World Junior Summer Showcase, but his play ever since has raised eyebrows – and not in a good way.

Who will be the starting goalie?

Right now, it’s still Trey Augustine‘s net to lose. He was the starter last year and was lights out with the USNTDP in the past, too. But Jacob Fowler, a Montreal Canadiens prospect, has been better this year at Boston College, and was arguably the biggest standout back in August, too. You can’t go wrong with either option, but it’ll be interesting to see who stands out the most at camp.

Sam Hillebrandt was a surprise third option. He split last year between the Stayner Siskins – a Jr. C team in Canada and the OHL’s Barrie Colts, and has put up some decent efforts in his first year of major junior. While I don’t expect him to play, just making this team is huge for someone that hasn’t repersented the United States in any capacity before.

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