Six different OHL franchises will have players play for USA at the upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase, headlined by four NHL-drafted prospects
Team USA announced their 46-man roster for the upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase that will be held in Plymouth, Michigan from July 26 to Aug. 3. USA will be going head-to-head against Canada, Sweden, and Finland.
This summer tournament shares as a precursor and a tryout for prospects who are aiming to play at the 2025 World Juniors tournament in Ottawa later this year. Among the 46 players listed on USA’s roster are six OHL players — Sam Hillebrandt, Matthew Mania, Lukas Fischer, Quentin Musty, Carey Terrance, and Joey Willis.
Sudbury Wolves - LW, Quentin Musty
Sudbury Wolves all-star Quentin Musty is a returnee from the event last summer. Musty is coming off a sensational season in the OHL producing at nearly a two-point-per-game clip (102 points in 53 games). He was named on the league’s first all-star team and although USA doesn’t normally take Americans playing out of the OHL to the World Juniors, Musty should be seen as a strong candidate to be in Ottawa later this year.
Musty hasn’t represented USA internationally since the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Erie Otters - C, Carey Terrance
Carey Terrance is also a returnee. He was named to USA’s 2024 World Juniors roster but did not suit up in a game for them. He played alongside Musty at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won gold at the 2023 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. Terrance led Erie in goals with 29 this past year and added 23 assists.
The athletic, speedy goal-scoring forward will need to impress in this summer tournament if he wants to once again be considered for Team USA at the World Juniors.
Saginaw Spirit - LW, Joey Willis
Joey Willis, the Nashville Predators fourth-rounder in 2023, will make his international playing debut. His production didn’t increase by much this past year (went from 44 points to 50) but he was a plus-25 and added two goals and four points on the way to winning the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit.
Willis is the type of player who can provide energy and versatility in a depth role on an American team that will be loaded with talent up front.
Flint Firebirds - D, Matthew Mania
Former Musty teammate and now a Flint Firebird, Matthew Mania received an invite to the summer showcase after recording 23 points in 45 games with Sudbury this past season. An injury at the beginning of the season kept the Los Angeles Kings fifth-rounder sidelined until the middle of November.
When Mania returned, he was clearly missed on the Wolves’ backend because of how smooth and agile of a skater he is, which allows him to transport pucks up ice with relative ease.
Sarnia Sting - D, Lukas Fischer
2024 NHL Draft prospect Lukas Fischer may be a surprising invite to some, but his season in Sarnia went under the radar due to the Sting struggling to consistently string along wins in the 2023-24 season. Fischer is a very raw defender whose athletic genes (thanks to his dad Jiri Fischer who played in the NHL) and late Sep. 9 birthday have NHL teams licking their lips at what the young blueliner could blossom into.
The Michigan native is most likely a long shot to make Team USA for the World Juniors, but don’t count out another smooth skating defenseman whose combination of mobility and reach allows him to lead pucks through the neutral zone and close gaps at a fast pace.
Barrie Colts - G, Sam Hillebrandt
Last but not least is Barrie Colts goaltender, Sam Hillebrandt, who was USA’s third goalie at the 2024 World Juniors. He’s coming off his first full season in the OHL where he shared the crease with Ben West. His numbers were better than his partner in crime, posting a 3.67 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage, with a record of 16-15-2.
Trey Augustine has the starter position locked up with the American National Junior Team, but the backup role is very much up for grabs, which Hillebrandt will be seeking to snatch.