Predicting Team USA’s 2026 World Junior Championship Lineup – The Hockey Writers – World Junior Hockey Champions

It’s almost that time again. The 2026 World Youth Championship will be held from December 26 to January 5, and the United States is expected to solidify its dynasty at this event-a three-peat is a foregone conclusion. Here are the roster projections, including 14 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 3 goaltenders.

American striker

All members of the 2023 NHL Draft class are no longer eligible, so Team USA is losing some firepower. But don’t worry, because this forward group has a lot going for it:

In last year’s game, James Hagens centered college teammates Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. But as they get older, he might pop up between two different familiar faces: Teddy Stiga and Brody Zimmer. The three have developed some chemistry over the past few seasons, so a reunion would make sense.

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Hagans could serve as this U.S. team’s best forward, adding to his resume of dominance in international competition. Stiga and Zimmer are capable in their own right (the latter had seven points for Team USA in 2025), but the focus will be on the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The middle six offers a lot of attacking promise. There’s a reason Trevor Connelly, Will Horcoff, and Cole Eiserman were all first-round picks — this roster contains elite skill, size, and shooting ability. As returnees, expectations were high for Connery and Eiserman.

The trio of Max Plante, Cole McKinney and Ryker Lee will have a similar impact. Plant leads the NCAA in scoring (26) and is a returning sophomore — something that could be the breakout game for the 2024 second-round pick. McKinney and Lee are both 2025 recruits who had stellar freshman seasons in the NCAA. The former offers two-way potential, while the latter can bring offensive upside.

The fourth line is determined by physical fitness, but there are also some skills. Shane Vansaghi is a ruthless hitter with far more physical attributes than a typical draft plus-one player. The same can be said for AJ Spellacy (despite being a plus-two draft pick), whose perseverance will be invaluable in the bottom six. Defense is the name of Kamil Bednarik’s game and that will help round out this lineup.

As backup forwards, Calum Porter and L.J. Mooney can provide an offensive spark. Despite their small size, they have a dynamic advantage that can change the outcome of a close game. It’s hard to deny them given their excellent points-per-game averages at last spring’s U18 World Championships.

united states defense force

Now, let’s look at the defense. To be sure, Zeev Buium’s aging leaves a void in this lineup, but it’s still an exciting group to be around. here it is:

The top pairing of Cole Hutson and Adam Kleiber needs no introduction. Last winter, the two won the gold medal with the United States team, and the former played a major role. His 11 points lead all players in the Class of 2025, and he was dazzling as an 18-year-old. Now, the blue line belongs to him. Kleber is a nice touch as a big right-hander who slides well for his size.

Among defensemen not named by the NCAA for Hutson, Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen finds herself atop the Under-20 roster — with 13 points in 16 games. He’s known as a mobile defensive back who could play well alongside 19-year-old returnee Logan Hensler. As a first-round pick in 2025, his two-way ability will be crucial.

For the final pair, we have two newcomers. First up is Luke Osburn, who led all defensemen in scoring at last year’s World Junior A Challenge en route to a gold medal. 2024 first-round pick EJ Emery could provide a solid defense for this lineup.

As extras, Will Skahan and Blake Fiddler weren’t supposed to be put to sleep. Defenders of their stature, despite not being as physically gifted as the fiddler, are always sought after.

american goalie

With the graduation of rock-solid cyberkeeper Trey Augustine and his two criminal associates, Sam Hillebrandt and Hampton Slukenski, the pipeline is wide open. Who will try to support this team to win a third consecutive gold medal?

Nick Kempf will likely man the crease. As a starter for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, he has a .908 save percentage in 12 games so far. Supporting Team USA’s chances of winning a third consecutive championship is a huge responsibility. If he succeeds, the Washington Capitals prospect will go down in history.

Caleb Heil and Jack Parsons got some jobs with Team USA at the World Junior Summer Showcase, so they could both join the team. Their numbers this season aren’t too impressive, but the experience of already having most of the roster outweighs that.

With Augustin, Buim, Leonard (last year’s MVP) and Perreault gone, winning another gold medal will be difficult. Do you think Americans can do it?