The members of the U.S. junior team have been decided. USA Hockey on Saturday announced the 25 players who will make up the team that will compete in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The United States selected its squad at the end of a three-day camp in Plymouth, Michigan, which included 29 players. Team USA had to make four cuts to get into the desired group.
The United States named 25 players to its roster, but only 23 will be active during the tournament due to IIHF regulations. The two extras can be activated in case of injury or illness, but once a player is replaced on the active roster, they cannot return to the game for the remainder of the tournament.
Here are the 25 players USA Hockey will bring overseas, with the U.S. playing in Sweden (Dec. 21) and Canada (Dec. 23) before actually dropping the puck against Norway on Dec. 26. We are planning to play a pre-tournament game.
team usa roster
forward
Gavin Brindley (CBJ), Quinn Finley (NYI), Cutter Gauthier (PHI), Gavin Hayes (CHI), Isaac Howard (TBL), Ryan Leonard (WSH), Rutger McGroarty (WPG), Oliver・Moore (CHI), Frank Nazar III (CHI), Danny Nelson (NYI), Gabe Perrault (NYR), Will Smith (SJS), Jimmy Snagaard (STL), Carrie Terrence (ANA)
defense
Jeev Bouium (2024), Seamus Casey (NJ), Ryan Chesley (WSH), Drew Fortescue (NYR), Lane Hutson (MTL), Aram Minnetian (DAL), Eric Pohlkamp (SJS) ), Sam Lindsell (CHI)
goaltender
Trey Augustine (DET), Jacob Fowler (MTL), Sam Hillebrand
final cut
James Hagens (2025), Patrick Geary, William Whitelaw (CBJ), Jake Rivanavage
roster analysis
Team composition
The United States will enter the tournament with one of the best forward groups of any team, with a top nine made up of first-round draft picks and highly skilled players. The goaltending tandem of Trey Augustin and Jacob Fowler also looks like the best in the tournament.
Defensively, America’s roster is littered with high-end puck movers and players who can push the pace. However, they lack size and may find it a bit difficult to defend the interior against bigger, stronger teams, but the American coaching staff has spent most of this week focusing on the group on the blue line. We talked about how much we trust him.
The depth of the U.S. front line may ultimately be an asset, with four of the seven returning players leading last year’s top line in Cutter Gauthier and Jimmy Snuggerud. Meanwhile, they could spring to a fourth line with a good mix of speed, tenacity, size and defensive ability, led by No. 4 center Danny Nelson, who was outstanding in the first two days of camp. . He will play a multi-faceted role on this team, including power play time.
Meanwhile, the blue line features each of college hockey’s top three scoring defensemen in Zeb Bouium (25 points), Seamus Casey (23 points) and Lane Hutson (20 points). On top of that, their top two goaltenders finished last season in the championship.
There is an element of experience in America, where there are seven returnee children. Additionally, 14 of the players on the roster are 19 years old, making the U.S. an older team than last year. It is often referred to as a “19-year-old tournament,” but it is true that older players have an advantage in this tournament. The age group decided that was the best course of action.
rutger mcgroarty status
Rutger McGroarty is on a plane to Europe, meaning the U.S. cleared him to play after spending the past four weeks on the shelf, part of which was spent in the hospital dealing with an undisclosed injury. All indications are that he expects you to give him. . Mr McGroarty will be given another 10 days to recover and undergo a medical evaluation.
The United States has the option of not registering all forwards ahead of Game 1 against Norway if McGroarty is still unable to play. However, that may not be the case as McGroarty participated in all drills at his practice despite wearing a red non-contact jersey. He appears to be close to playing, but his decision is in the hands of the doctors.
Aram Minnetian Status Clearer
Aram Minnetian received a one-game suspension from Hockey East, but Team USA does not expect him to receive further discipline from the IIHF and has been told the situation is believed to be resolved. Ta. Officials said the IIHF’s suspension rules apply to longer suspensions and more serious violations.
Minnetian will have to miss one game the next time he is named to Boston College’s active roster, but he won’t have to do the same with Team USA in the world juniors. However, it’s still unclear exactly which of the American defensemen will be “extras” who only play in the event of injury or illness, so Minnetian will still have to compete for playing time.
Why were James Hagens and others cut?
Hagens was probably the surprise of the day considering how well he played this summer and had a great season, but he was still born in 2006 and as late as 2006, and in two days of camp It was a clear role for him as it became clear that this was not going to happen.
Cutter Gauthier is likely to be America’s No. 1 center, Will Smith maintains the line from his time at BC, and Frank Nazzall could play in a familiar trio, so that’s a big no-no on the depth chart. Hagens spot suddenly looked like he could be the 13th forward. If America is going to acquire a young player, they don’t want him to just sit around and play sparingly throughout the tournament.
Camp also exposed some of Hagens’ limitations due to physical maturation. His incredible skill, creativity, and hockey sense were evident, but while the 19-year-old’s players were able to get him off the puck well, he struggled to get it back.
Even if Hagens doesn’t make this particular roster, nothing takes away his potential or promise as a future star. This may be one of the deepest forward groups the U.S. has had in this tournament, but you’ll want to keep the 17-year-old hidden away as a fourth-line, No. 13 forward, or worse, an extra in the press box. Probably not. box. This will allow him to continue his season, play meaningful games and focus on the World Under-18 National Team in the spring.
As for other players, Patrick Geary was brought in to play depth defense and see if he could play on the penalty kill. It was hard to tell if he gave them anything more than familiar players, especially among left-handed defensemen, but I think the answer was no. If Geary is able to make it to camp, he could return to Michigan State with valuable experience.
Jake Livanavage may have had a long shot, but he’s a left-handed shot that can take a few penalty kicks, so I thought he might be able to make it. In the end, Aram Minnetian, who had not participated in the summer camp, joined us and had a very impressive camp.
The U.S. had invited additional forwards to camp, with McGraw-Arty’s status still up in the air. As camp progressed and McGroarty’s position solidified, William Whitelaw’s role seemed rather unclear. He wasn’t going to be a top-nine player, nor was he a natural fit on the fourth line. Wisconsin teammate Quinn Finley, on the other hand, was adamant that the Americans could play in penalty shootouts to thin out the opponent’s lineup and provide an effective shift, making it the better option.
