The World Junior Championship is now just six weeks away. This is the time when decision makers are narrowing down their list for who will get an invite to camp and who is ultimately going to be on the final roster.

• Watch elite junior and college hockey all season long with a FloHockey subscription
• FloHockey's 2026 World Junior Championship Coverage
• Chris Peters' Team USA Projected Roster After Summer Showcase

Team USA’s training camp begins in Duluth, Minn., on Dec. 15, where the team will get down to its final cuts over about 10 days, which will also include exhibition games against Finland and Germany at AMSOIL Arena, home of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s hockey program.

The Americans will come into the tournament as two-time defending champions, but they will be far from the favorites to win the tournament.

The U.S. has the potential to bring as many as nine returning players from last year’s team, but many of its key figures from the gold medal win will be gone. Most notably, that includes Trey Augustine (DET), who became the first U.S. goalie to win two gold medals at this event. 

That is probably the biggest piece to replace and the U.S. may be no closer to having that figured out than they were this summer when they invited five goalies to the World Junior Summer Showcase.

There are several key questions that remain for Team USA as they enter the final weeks for decisions to be made about who is coming to camp. Here’s a look at some of the most pressing.

Does Team USA Have A No. 1 Goalie?

There is no longer any notion that the U.S. will adequately replace Trey Augustine. I don’t know that there ever was a notion to begin with. This was always going to be one of the toughest positions to fill due to what the age group is providing for the American goaltending class.

Team USA brought five goalies to the World Junior Summer Showcase. Of them, Nick Kempf (WSH) had the deepest international experience, followed by Caleb Heil (TBL). The other goalies in the mix were undrafted with Jack Parsons and Kam Hendrickson coming out of the USHL and Patrick Quinlan coming off of being the NTDP’s top goalie last season.

Kempf feels like a lock, but this has been a trying year for Notre Dame. He is 3-6-1 with a .901 save percentage. 

Based on World Junior Summer Showcase performance, Caleb Heil looked like a potential tandem option for Kempf. He’s had good flashes this season for Madison, but owns an unsightly .886 save percentage in 12 games. It has been a long time since the U.S. took a goalie direct from the USHL to the World Juniors and Heil was just named to the World Junior A Challenge roster. That tournament ends two days before Team USA’s camp, but inclusion on that team has traditionally signaled that the player won’t be going to World Juniors. In this particular year, USA has no choice but to consider all options, including Heil and how he performs at that tournament which runs from Dec. 7-13.

Quinlan is due to join Kempf at Notre Dame next season, but has found his transition into the OHL less than smooth. He has a .887 save percentage for the Sarnia Sting.

Kam Hendrickson has appeared in one game with UConn this season and if you’re not playing for your current team, you’re not going to be playing at the World Juniors. The same goes for Jack Parsons, who has appeared in two games for Providence this season.

There are some other goalies to consider. Kelowna Rockets goalie Harrison Boettiger has made six appearances in his first WHL season, going 2-2-2 with a .900 save percentage. He was part of USA’s World U18 Championship roster, but did not play in a game in the tournament. It would be quite a feat to go from No. 3 at Under-18s to in the mix at the World Juniors.

Needless to say, this is not the kind of position the U.S. wants to be in, nor is it the position they’ve often found themselves in. Goaltending has been a position of strength, typically, but it’s a pretty rough situation right now.

Trevor Connelly’s Health Status

When healthy, Trevor Connelly would be a top-six forward for this U.S. squad. But he hasn’t been healthy since the World Junior Summer Showcase. 

Currently under contract with the Vegas Golden Knights and due to play for the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL, Connelly has not appeared in a game yet this season. He sustained a lower-body injury at the World Junior Summer Showcase, which at the time wasn’t considered very serious. Now we’re on month two of no hockey. The clock is ticking.

Connelly was on last year’s roster, producing four points in seven games, but was very likely to be a significant contributor to the team in 2026. It is not believed that the injury will keep him out much longer. The only question is how strong he comes back and if he's up to full speed before needing to get going for the World Juniors. USA doesn't have a great luxury of being picky when it comes to their top forwards. If Connelly is good to go, you'd have to think he's a lock.

Defensive Depth In Question

Team USA has three returnees on the blue line in Cole Hutson (WSH), Logan Hensler (OTT) and Adam Kleber (BUF), each of whom you should be able to write in ink on the roster. I also think we’ve seen a significant enough improvement from E.J. Emery (NYR) to warrant his inclusion on the blue line. After that is a bit less clear.

Strong options include Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen from the University of Michigan and Luke Osburn (BUF) from Wisconsin.

Another player that I thought was very likely to make the squad was Tanner Henricks (CBJ), but unfortunately, he was injured on a hit by his older brother Ty during a St. Cloud-Western Michigan game and is out three months. That’s a tough loss.

Henricks being out feels like it cracks the door open wider for Blake Fiddler (SEA) as a right-shot defenseman with size and some ability to move pucks. 

I think we’re going to see Cole Hutson assume the role that Zeev Buium played last year for Team USA, which means a lot of minutes, a lot of power-play time and a lot of green lights flashing. 

Examining USA's Forward Group

Perhaps a compounding issue for where Team USA is at right now is that the forwards, especially the ones you’d expect to pop, have underwhelmed this year. There are some incredible bright spots, too, namely the NCAA’s top scorer Max Plante (DET) and Michigan's Will Horcoff (PIT), but others who came in with higher expectations have fallen a bit short of those lofty projections.

James Hagens (BOS) is a point-per-game player in college, but there were reasonable expectations for him to be among the most dominant forwards in college hockey this year. That has not been the case as Boston College has struggled out the gate. Hagens is their top scorer, but somehow they still need more from him.

Cole Eiserman (NYI) has played pretty well and is scoring goals, but has also been hurt for a chunk of the season. He is expected back in time for the World Juniors, but that will merit watching closely. Goals are going to be harder to come by for this U.S. team, but Eiserman will be one of the most trusted sources in that regard.

Last year’s golden goal hero Teddy Stiga (NSH) has two goals through nine games with Boston College. First-rounder Cullen Potter (CGY) has one goal. L.J. Mooney (MTL) has been fine as a freshman, not outstanding, with seven points. Ryker Lee (NSH) has just one goal after being a scoring dynamo in the USHL last year, but is on a loaded Michigan State team where he plays down the lineup.

The fact is, a lot of these players are getting challenged a bit more this season. College hockey looks better and tougher right now and perhaps that is to blame, but USA is going to want some guys surging into camp.

The brightest spot of the group so far is Plante, who has been consistent, competitive and productive for Minnesota Duluth, which has surprised a lot of people this year. Plante leads all NCAA players with 22 points, scoring goals and making plays. He was a bit player on last year's team, but he's going to be a big-time contributor for Team USA, or at least should be.

Horcoff has really impressed, too. His goal-scoring is off the charts this year and he's shown tremendous skill and athleticism while bringing a huge size advantage. USA is going to need to match power with power against some of the top teams and Horcoff looks like he can deliver that.

Some potential depth forwards to keep an eye on for Team USA being in the mix is Michigan's Cole McKinney (SJS) and WHL forward Jacob Kvasnicka (NYI), who has impressed in his first CHL season. Both players bring energy to the lineup and could be used in bottom six roles if USA wants. I also still think Windsor Spitfires AJ Spellacy (CHI) has to be part of Team USA's plans as a fast, physical fourth-line option.

There is still plenty of time for things to turn around, but the U.S. is hosting this tournament this year. Putting together a good showing on home ice is always critical, especially with momentum and an opportunity to grow this tournament even more south of Canada's border.

I still think the U.S. has a chance to medal in this event, but they will come into a home-ice event as a two-time defending champion that’s also the underdog. 

Stay tuned for a look at USA's potential depth chart coming soon.

Follow FloHockey's Coverage Of The 2026 World Junior Championship

FloHockey will be on site for complete coverage of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can expect game-by-game coverage of both Team USA and Team Canada from FloHockey's experts, interviews with key players and coaches and much more. Follow FloHockey's WJC coverage here.

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Subscribe to an annual plan to watch the AHL, ECHL, OHL, QMJHL And More On FloHockey

More leagues, more teams, more action than anywhere else. FloHockey gives you access to the most live hockey anywhere, including leagues like the AHL, ECHL, OHL and QMJHL. Watch your team, follow top prospects, and stay on top of all the action. Subscribe to an annual plan now and get 7 months free.

Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
• Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
• Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook