NHL prospects Fink, Muldowney highlight initial players on U.S. Collegiate Selects’ 2025 Spengler Cup roster

The first batch of talent set to represent U.S. college hockey in one of hockey’s longest-standing events has been revealed.

On Thursday, the first five players of the U.S. Collegiate Selects Spengler Cup roster were announced. Headlining the initial names are Penn State teammates Mac Gadowsky and Aiden Fink, as well as San Jose Sharks draft pick Joey Muldowney.

Minnesota State goaltender and North Dakota defenseman Jake Livanavage round out the group.

The roster will consist solely of 25 players from the college ranks, with all six D-I conferences being represented.

Fink, a Nashville Predators prospect, is coming off a dominant sophomore season at Penn State. After kicking off his NCAA career with 34 points in 2023-24, the Calgary native scored 40 goals and 53 points, finishing fourth in the country in scoring, ahead of Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard. Fink last played in an international competition in 2022 for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge.

Gadowsky just started his first season in Hockey Valley after transferring over from Army. The Fairbanks, Alaska native was one of the top scorers for the Black Knights in his first two seasons in college hockey, posting a career-high 42 points during the 2024-25 campaign. The junior defenseman was a top-10 Hobey Baker finalist, an East Region First-Team All-American, and was named the best defenseman in Atlantic Hockey.

Muldowney is part of a rising program at the University of Connecticut. Last season, the Lake View, N.Y. native set career highs in goals (29), assists (18) and points (47), helping the Huskies advance to the Hockey East Championship Game, earning the program’s first-ever berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Livanavage, an alternate captain on the Fighting Hawks, has shown he can be an exceptional player at both ends of the rink. The undrafted blueliner posted 29 points in his freshman season before adding another 28 last season. The Gilbert, Ariz. native represented the U.S. at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and won the gold medal at the 2022 World Junior A Challenge.

Tracy was one of the best goaltenders in college hockey last season. The Maverick backstop helped his team to a CCHA Championship, while being a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, and a finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s top goaltender. The Chicago native was a West Region Second-Team All-American and was voted the best goaltender in the CCHA after leading the nation in goals-against average (1.42) and save percentage (.946).

The United States select team will be coached by Penn State bench boss Guy Gadowsky, fresh off helping his program advance to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in program history.  Ultimately, Penn State fell in the national semifinals to the eventual runners-up, Boston University.

The Spengler Cup will take place from Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. The Americans’ first game will be against Canada on Boxing Day. The loser of that game will face HC Davos the following day, with the winner getting to meet the hosts on Dec. 28.

This will be just the second time a team from the United States will be competing in the tournament. In 1988, a select squad of Americans playing in Europe, including 1980 Olympic gold medalist Dave Silk, participated in the tournament. The U.S. beat Canada in the final, making them the second non-European team to win the tournament.