Team USA named 29 players to the preliminary roster for the 2024 world juniors in Gothenburg, Sweden. Who made it, and which players were snubbed?
Will Smith, formerly of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (pictured above), is looking to make Team USA's world junior squad for the first time.Team USA has unveiled its preliminary camp roster for the upcoming world juniors.
With the World Junior Championship set to kick off on Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden, national hockey federations began to narrow down the players who will make up their rosters for the annual under-20 international tournament.
The 29 players named to Team USA's preliminary roster will compete for a spot on the final squad over a three-day training camp from Dec. 14 to 16 in Plymouth, Mich., at USA Hockey Arena. After camp, a 25-man roster will be named to represent USA Hockey at the championship from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2024.
The roster features eight returning members from their bronze medal-winning squad from last year. There were 16 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goalies named to the roster for training camp. Four players will be cut from the roster – in all likelihood, two forwards and two defensemen will be sent home.
Head coach David Carle from the University of Denver leads the 2024 coaching staff. Steve Miller of the University of Minnesota, Brett Larson from St. Cloud State University and Garrett Raboin of Augustana University will serve as assistant coaches, and David Lassonde as the goaltending coach.
Team USA are scheduled to play pre-tournament games against Sweden on Dec. 21 and Canada on Dec. 23 in preparation for the world juniors. Team USA will compete in Group B during the preliminary round of the tournament, facing off against Norway, Switzerland, Czechia and Slovakia.
Cole Eiserman (U.S. NTDP/2024 NHL draft), Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves/San Jose Sharks) and Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers/Vancouver Canucks) were the big names left off the preliminary roster. Zeev Buium is the only 2024 NHL draft-eligible player on the roster, while James Hagens is eligible in 2025. Rutger McGroaty was recently injured in a game for the University of Michigan and hasn’t played since but hopes to be healthy in time for the 2024 World Junior Championship.
Forwards
Gavin Brindley (Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
Quinn Finley
Cutter Gauthier (Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
James Hagens
Gavin Hayes
Isaac Howard
Ryan Leonard
Rutger McGroarty (Injured, Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
Oliver Moore
Frank Nazar
Danny Nelson
Gabe Perreault
Will Smith
Jimmy Snuggerud (Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
Carey Terrance
William Whitelaw
Defense
Zeev Buium
Seamus Casey (Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
Ryan Chesley (Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
Drew Fortescue
Patrick Geary
Lane Hutson (Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
Jake Livanavage
Aram Minnetian
Eric Pohlkamp
Sam Rinzel
Goalies
Trey Augustine (Returning player from the 2023 world juniors squad)
Jacob Fowler
Sam Hillebrandt
Correction: James Hagens is eligible for the 2025 NHL draft, not 2024.
Get the 2024 world juniors edition of The Hockey News magazine at THN.com/free.