USA finalizes 2026 World Junior roster after final cuts

After finishing the team’s final pre-tournament game against Finland on Tuesday night, USA Hockey has finalized its roster for the main event in Minnesota.

The squad made two cuts, sending New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka and Seattle Kraken draft pick Blake Fiddler back home, leaving the team with 14 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders.

Both players are eligible to return in 2027.

Kvasnicka, 18, was a seventh-round pick by the Islanders in 2025. The Penticton Vees forward spent the past two years with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, finishing the U-18 World Championship with five points in seven games last year.

Fiddler, 18, has spent the past two years with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He also represented the United States at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2025 U-18 World Championship. Notably, the son of former NHLer Vern Fiddler also played for Canada at the 2023 U-17 World Challenge.

Late Monday night, the Americans cut Vegas Golden Knights prospect Trevor Connelly (injury) and Los Angeles Kings draft pick Henry Brzustewicz to bring the roster down to 27. USA Hockey used the second of two preliminary round games as a final audition.

USA will open the tournament with a 6:00 PM ET game against Germany on Dec. 26. They’ll also face Switzerland and Slovakia before concluding against Sweden on Dec. 31.

Here is a look at the full 25-man roster:

Goaltenders

• Nicholas Kempf: Washington Capitals
• Caleb Heil: Tampa Bay Lightning
• Brady Knowling: 2026 Eligible

Defensemen

• EJ Emery: New York Rangers
• Cole Hutson: Washington Capitals
• Adam Kleber: Buffalo Sabres
• Logan Hensler: Ottawa Senators
• Asher Barnett: Edmonton Oilers
• Luke Osburn: Buffalo Sabres
• Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen: 2026 Eligible
• Chase Reid: 2026 Eligible

Forwards

• James Hagens: Boston Bruins
• Cole Eiserman: New York Islanders
• Kamil Bednarik: New York Islanders
• Teddy Stiga: Nashville Predators
• Max Plante: Detroit Red Wings
• Brodie Ziemer: Buffalo Sabres
• Ryker Lee: Nashville Predators
• William Horcoff: Pittsburgh Penguins
• A.J. Spellacy: Chicago Blackhawks
• Brendan McMorrow: Los Angeles Kings
• L.J. Mooney: Montreal Canadiens
• Cole McKinney: San Jose Sharks
• Shane Vansaghi: Philadelphia Flyers
• Will Zellers: Boston Bruins