There will be a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect representing the United States at the 2026 World Junior Championship. The Lightning's seventh-round pick in this past summer's NHL Draft, Caleb Heil, is was officially named to the final roster for Team USA on Wednesday morning. Heil, who's father Jeff Heil was a professional goaltender in both the American Hockey League and the ECHL, has spent the 2025-26 season with the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League. In 16 games with the Capitols, Heil has registered a goals-against average of 2.60, which makes him ninth best in the USHL, and a save percentage of .891. Heil will be split the goaltending responsibilities with Washington Capitals prospect Nicholas Kempf and draft eligible goaltender Brady Knowling. None of the three netminders have previous experience at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Heil is currently committed to join the University of North Dakota in the NCAA for the 2026-27 season where he will join current goaltenders Jan Spunar, Gibson Homer, and Zachary Sandy, none of which are affiliated with an NHL team at this time. Heil and the rest of Team USA will kick off the tournament on Friday against Germany, who narrowly escaped relegation in 2025 after defeating Kazakhstan to remain in the top flight of U20 hockey.
