Eight Minnesotans, including four returnees, named to U.S. roster for world junior hockey championship

USA Hockey named its preliminary roster for the 2026 world junior hockey championship, and the list of 28 players includes eight Minnesotans.

(Editor’s note: Will Zellers of Maple Grove, a freshman forward at North Dakota, was added to the roster on Dec. 9.)

Nine of the players on the list, which must be narrowed to 25 before the tournament starts Dec. 26 in the Twin Cities, are back from last year’s team, which won its second consecutive gold medal.

Among the nine returnees are Gophers forward Brodie Ziemer of Chaska; Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante, a forward from Hermantown, and Adam Kleber, a defenseman from Chaska; and defenseman Logan Hensler of Woodbury, who plays for Wisconsin.

The other Minnesotans on the preliminary roster are goalie Caleb Heil of Victoria and the Madison Capitols of the U.S. Junior Hockey League; forward Jacob Kvasnicka of Wayzata, who skates for Penticton, British Columbia, of the Western Hockey League; forward Brendan McMorrow of Lakeville and the University of Denver; and goalie A.J. Reyelts of Proctor (Penticton).

Gophers forward L.J. Mooney (West Mifflin, Pa.) is also on the roster.

The players will have training camp in Duluth from Dec. 15-23.

Also returning from the gold medal team are Trevor Connelly, a pro winger for Henderson of the American Hockey League; Boston University’s Cole Eiserman and Cole Huston; and Boston College’s James Hagens and Teddy Stiga, who scored the overtime winner against Canada in last year’s tournament.

Here is the U.S. roster, with current team and the NHL team that drafted them:

Forwards: Kamil Bednarik, Boston University (Islanders); Trevor Connelly, Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas); Cole Eiserman, Boston University (Islanders); James Hagens, Boston College (Boston); Will Horcoff, Michigan (Pittsburgh); Jacob Kvasnicka, Penticton Vees (Islanders); Ryker Lee, Michigan State (Nashville); Cole McKinney, Michigan (San Jose); Brendan McMorrow, Denver (Los Angeles); LJ Mooney, Minnesota (Montreal); Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth (Detroit); A.J. Spellacy, Windsor Spitfires (Chicago); Teddy Stiga, Boston College (Nashville); Shane Vansaghi, Michigan State (Philadelphia); Brodie Ziemer, Minnesota (Buffalo).

Defensemen: Asher Barnett, Michigan (Edmonton); Henry Brzustewicz, London Knights (Los Angeles); EJ Emery, North Dakota (Rangers); Blake Fiddler, Edmonton Oil Kings (Seattle); Logan Hensler, Wisconsin (Ottawa); Cole Hutson, Boston University (Washington); Adam Kleber, Minnesota Duluth (Buffalo); Luke Osburn, Wisconsin (Buffalo); Chase Reid, Soo Greyhounds (2026 draft eligible); Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, Michigan (2026 draft eligible).