As the excitement for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship heats up, the United States is gearing up to defend its gold medal for the first time since 2021. The squad has officially announced a preliminary roster of 28 players, which features a mix of returning champions and fresh talent.

Under the careful guidance of general manager John Vanbiesbrouck and head coach David Carle, they face the challenging task of narrowing down the roster by cutting three players before the final list is submitted. The tournament is set to take place from December 26, 2024, to January 5, 2025, in Ottawa, Canada. Team USA will compete in a tough Group A alongside powerhouses such as Canada, Germany, Finland, and Latvia, making their path to championship glory anything but easy.

Notably absent from this year’s preliminary roster is Will Smith, the dynamic forward from the San Jose Sharks, who was a standout player last year, netting four goals and contributing nine points in just seven games. The Sharks have opted not to loan him for the tournament, raising questions about Team USA's offense without his explosive presence.

Excitingly, ten members from last year's gold-medal-winning team will be participating in this year's camp, adding valuable experience to the roster. Here’s the breakdown of the preliminary roster:

Forwards:

- Austin Burnevik (Ducks, 2024, 182nd overall) - Trevor Connelly (Golden Knights, 2024, 19th overall) - Cole Eisermann (Islanders, 2024, 20th overall) - James Hagens (2025 draft-eligible) - Ryan Leonard (Capitals, 2023, 8th overall) - Oliver Moore (Blackhawks, 2023, 19th overall) - Danny Nelson (Islanders, 2023, 49th overall) - Chris Pelosi (Bruins, 2023, 92nd overall) - Gabe Perreault (Rangers, 2023, 23rd overall) - AJ Spellacy (Blackhawks, 2024, 72nd overall) - Teddy Stiga (Predators, 2024, 55th overall) - Brandon Svoboda (Sharks, 2023, 71st overall) - Carey Terrance (Ducks, 2023, 59th overall) - Joey Willis (Predators, 2023, 111th overall) - Brodie Ziemer (Sabres, 2024, 71st overall)

Defensemen:

- Zeev Buium (Wild, 2024, 12th overall) - EJ Emery (Rangers, 2024, 30th overall) - Blake Fiddler (2025 draft-eligible) - Paul Fischer (Oilers, 2023, 138th overall)* - Drew Fortescue (Rangers, 2023, 90th overall) - Logan Hensler (2025 draft-eligible) - Cole Hutson (Capitals, 2024, 43rd overall) - Adam Kleber (Sabres, 2024, 42nd overall) - Aram Minnetian (Stars, 2023, 125th overall) - Colin Ralph (Blues, 2024, 48th overall)

Goaltenders:

- Trey Augustine (Red Wings, 2023, 41st overall) - Sam Hillebrandt (went undrafted in 2023, 2024) - Hampton Slukynsky (Kings, 2023, 118th overall)

*Note: Fischer was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2023.

With such a robust roster filled with potential stars, the anticipation is palpable! Fans will be eagerly watching as Team USA prepares to reclaim their title on the international stage. Can they overcome their rivals and etch their names in history once more? The countdown to the World Junior Championship is officially on! Stay tuned for updates as the roster gets finalized and the team gears up for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament!