Augustine Confidence Blossoming as USA Seeks WJC Repeat Gold This afternoon, Team USA made official its 25-man roster for the 2025 World Juniors Championship, which will officially begin Dec. 26 from Ottawa, when the Americans will play their first game of pool play against Germany. Two Detroit Red Wings prospects will represent the U.S. in the Canadian capital: 2023 second round pick Trey Augustine and 2024 second rounder Max Plante. Feb 7, 2024; Plymouth, MI, USA; USA s Max Plante (26) turns up ice in front of Finland's Daniel Nieminen (3) during the third period of the 2024 U18 s Five Nations Tournament at USA Hockey Arena. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA4MjQyNTY2MDQxMTgzODg4/usatsi_22471709-1.jpg] Feb 7, 2024; Plymouth, MI, USA; USA s Max Plante (26) turns up ice in front of Finland's Daniel Nieminen (3) during the third period of the 2024 U18 s Five Nations Tournament at USA Hockey Arena. The former's inclusion is no surprise, with Augustine set to compete in his third World Junior [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/players/augustine-adds-confidence-to-calm-as-usa-seeks-repeat-gold], having guided the Americans to Bronze two years ago and Gold last year in Sweden. Plante's place on the roster was less assured, in part because of an injury that limited him to just five games in the first half of his freshman season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Plante was not initially included on the roster for this week's USA selection camp in Plymouth, MI, but then received a late invitation. Tuesday, before Plante had officially been named to the team, USA general manager John Vanbiesbrouck said of the situation, "Max was a late add just based on his hand and wrist. He was just too good to leave out of our group, and so we watched him the last four weeks. When somebody's wearing a splint, it's kinda hard, but he's just playing too good. You gotta give him that shot, and he deserves to be here." After camp, the Americans had four cuts to make, and Plante was not among those sent home, proving that he wasn't just too good to omit from camp but also from Team USA's final roster. Augustine, Plante, and the rest of Team USA have two pre-tournament games on the schedule, before the real article arrives on Dec. 26. On Saturday night at Slush Puppie Palace in Kingston, Ont., the Americans will play an exhibition game against Slovakia. Then on the following Monday at Cornwall Civic Complex in Cornwall, Ont., Team USA will play Finland. Three days later, their tournament will begin against the Germans. ALSO FROM THN DETROIT Seider Everything for Red Wings in Win over Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/players/seider-everything-for-red-wings-in-win-over-flyers] KHL Club Honors Fedorov's Birthday with Jersey Retirement [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/khl-club-honors-fedorovs-birthday-with-jersey-retirement] Red Wings' Patrick Kane Keeps Making History [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/red-wings-patrick-kane-keeps-making-history] Red Wings Rumble Past Flyers for 6–4 Win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/red-wings-rumble-past-flyers-for-6-4-win]
