<p>Happy Thanksgiving, America.</p>



<p>USA’s World Junior training camp roster is expected to be released on Dec. 1, with the team kicking off training camp in Duluth, Minn., from Dec. 15-23. As part of the camp, the team will meet up with Finland and Germany, with each team playing a pair of pre-tournament games.</p>



<p>The United States won gold in 2024 and 2025 and will look for a three-peat for the first time in team history. But after a weak World Junior Summer Showcase back in August, there’s some skepticism. USA’s talent pool isn’t massive, but they have the benefit of having so many players who have come through the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, giving them some extra chemistry.</p>



<p>With the roster announcement on the horizon, here’s our last projection before the event kicks off for real:</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="138"></div>



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



<p><em>Also considered: Will Zellers (BOS); Ethan Wyttenbach (CGY);</em> <em>J.P. Hurlbert (2026)</em></p>



<p>USA isn’t overly deep offensively, which is why this lineup is almost identical to the one projected earlier this month. The top line SHOULD be set in stone – they’ve all played well together before, so don’t change what isn’t broke. Bednarik and Eiserman have also been together for quite a while, and Connelly has skated alongside Eiserman at a few different events.</p>



<p>There’s a legit argument for putting Horcoff in as the No. 2 center. He’s been so good this year at Michigan, and, by all accounts, is a better player than Bednarik. Right now, though, I’m sticking with chemistry, and if things fall flat with Bednarik (who is more of a support player at best), I could see Horcoff getting promoted.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="179"></div>



<p>Plante has been one of the best forwards in the NCAA this year, so having him on the third line could make him a matchup nightmare. He might not be a high-end play-driver, but he’s an outstanding passer who plays with pace and hockey sense. Lee has had some growing pains as a college freshman, but he’s playing some excellent hockey as of late and was USA’s top winger back in August.</p>



<p>The fourth line blends toughness (Spellacy and Vansaghi) with skill (McKinney. We’ll see how the Americans utilize McKinney, given he definitely could be a third-liner on this team. As for the extras, Mooney dominated the WJSS 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. 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.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="176"></div>



<p>The most difficult cut was Hurlbert, the CHL’s most lethal forward. By all accounts, he’s good enough for this team. But it feels very, very unlikely USA Hockey would take someone who left the USNTDP while still eligible for the U-18 team.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensemen</h2>



<p><strong>Cole Hutson (WSH) – EJ Emery (NYR)<br>Luke Osburn (BUF) – Logan Hensler (OTT)<br><strong>Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen (Undrafted)</strong> –&nbsp;<strong>Adam Kleber (BUF)</strong><br><strong><strong>Blake Fiddler (SEA)</strong></strong> – <strong>Will Skahan (UTA)</strong></strong></p>



<p><em>Also considered: John Whipple (DET); Henry Brzustewicz (LAK)</em>; <em>Jacob Rombach (NSH); Chase Reid (2026)</em></p>



<p>This is the easiest position to project for the Americans. Hutson is expected to be one of the best defensemen in this tournament after leading the 2025 affair in points. He’ll be everything for the team – look for Hutson to skate 30 minutes in some of the more important games. I like him lining up with Emery, his former USNTDP partner. It has been two years since they last played together in a meaningful capacity, though, so I wouldn’t blame them if they tried Hutson with someone else. I always prefer built-in chemistry, though.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="175"></div>



<p>I don’t think there’s a bad combination with any of the remaining defenders. 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.</p>



<p>Rheaume-Mullen’s breakout season will give the former USNTDP defender an opportunity to play more than maybe once expected. I think he’ll jump over Fiddler, who was a second-round pick in 2025, but we’ll see. Skahan and Kleber will be there for size (something USA doesn’t lack in its D corps), but they can also eat minutes, too.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="157"></div>



<p>The two toughest cuts were Rombach and Reid. Rombach has a great reach and doesn’t make many mistakes with the puck. But if they already have Kleber and Skahan, I’m not sure where Rombach fits in. Reid has a real chance of going in the top five of the NHL Draft this year, but I wonder if USA Hockey would bring him over some of their homegrown talents instead (especially after getting cut from the U-18 team ahead of the World Championship in April).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Goaltenders</h2>



<p><strong>Nick Kempf (WSH)<br>Harrison Boettiger (2026)<br>Caleb Heil (TBL)</strong></p>



<p><em>Also considered: <em>Patrick Quinlan (Undrafted)</em></em>; <em>Jack Parsons (Undrafted); Kam Hendrickson (Undrafted)</em></p>



<p>This is USA’s weakest position, for sure. Kempf should be the team’s No. 1 after impressing in previous national team events, but he’s been just OK in college. He’s capable of heavy workloads, and I think he’ll be just fine against average competition. The Americans also have a good defensive unit in front of him, which should make life a bit easier.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="164"></div>



<p>Boettiger has been on a heater recently with the Kelowna Rockets, helping them escape the basement and climb into a more respectable spot in the standings. He looks destined to be USA’s starter in 2027, but he definitely has the potential to steal the job from Kempf this year if things go well. That being said, Heil is already an NHL-drafted goalie and USA Hockey has liked what they’ve seen from him internationally before. Could his experience get him the backup gig? We’ll see, but I like Boettiger more.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recent posts from Steven Ellis</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-nhl-draft-rankings-november-top-50-mckenna-stenberg-belchetz">2026 NHL Draft Rankings: November top 50</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/projecting-every-teams-starting-goalie-for-2026-mens-wnter-olympic-hockey-tournament-hellebuyck-binnington-ullmark">Projecting every team’s starting goalie for 2026 men’s Winter Olympic hockey tournament</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-world-junior-championship-projecting-canadas-roster-mckenna-george-parekh-kindel-cootes">2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting Canada’s roster</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-world-junior-championship-projecting-usas-roster-hagens-hutson-eiserman-connelly">2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting USA’s roster</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/five-nhl-prospects-making-a-case-canada-world-junior-team-spence-mustard-parascak">Five NHL prospects making a case to play for Canada’s World Junior team</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-6-nhlers-35-and-older-in-2025-26-greybeards-marchand-crosby-malkin-allen-tavares-johansson">The top NHLers 35 and older in 2025-26</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-nhl-draft-top-players-chl-usa-prospects-challenge-belchetz-hurlbert-berchild-plante">2026 NHL Draft: Top players to watch at CHL USA Prospects Challenge</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhl-prospect-roundup-top-5-players-thriving-in-europe-kantserov-eriksson-surin-gamzin-rautiainen">NHL Prospect Roundup: Top 5 players thriving in Europe</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/harrison-boettiger-feature-2026-nhl-draft-memorial-cup-prospect-scouting-report">‘He’ll win you big games’: Meet Harrison Boettiger, one of 2026 NHL Draft’s top goaltenders</a></li>
</ul>
