USA makes first World Junior cut, reduces roster to 29

USA Hockey has reduced its World Junior training camp roster to 29 players, cutting goaltender AJ Reyelts ahead of the team’s first pre-tournament game this weekend.

The move leaves the team with three goalies, 10 defensemen and 16 forwards. The team still needs to cut two defenders and two forwards by Dec. 24. With the move, USA’s three goaltenders will be Nick Kempf (Washington Capitals), Caleb Heil (Tampa Bay Lightning) and 2026 NHL Draft prospect Brady Knowling.

With Reyelts gone, the Americans still have one Minnesota-born goaltender in Heil, a native of Victoria.

Reyelts, 19, was a surprise addition to the team, having never represented USA Hockey in a previous international event. He has spent the past season with the WHL’s Penticton Vees, going 13-4-6 with a shutout and a .909 save percentage. Before that, Reyelts spent last year with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, going 21-19-4 with five shutouts.

The 19-year-old went unselected over the past two NHL Drafts, but is still eligible for 2026. Reyelts has a commitment to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for 2026-27.

USA Hockey will hold its final scheduled practice on Saturday before its first pre-tournament game, a 5:00 PM ET battle against Germany on Sunday evening. USA will finish their pre-tournament against the Finns on Dec. 23 before kicking off the main event against Germany again at 6:00 PM ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota on Dec. 26.

The Americans aim to become the third nation to win three consecutive World Juniors, joining Canada and the Soviet Union. USA Hockey had never won this tournament in successive years, but finally broke the streak in 2024 and 2025. The team is set to bring back nine players from last year’s roster, including Cole Hutson, Cole Eiserman, James Hagens and Trevor Connelly.