The best time of the year for prospect watchers is right around the corner. The 2024 edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship begins later this month, as normal, on December 26. This year’s event will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, which was initially slated to host the event in 2022 but needed to be rescheduled due to COVID restrictions.
USA Hockey today announced their 29-player preliminary roster for the event, which will need to be trimmed to 25 before event rosters are due. This year, they’ll be participating in Group B alongside Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Norway and are considered the favorites to win the group with one of the more highly talented rosters we’ve seen from the Americans in a number of years.
The Coyotes are not loaning star youngster Logan Cooley to the US for the event, the Blue Jackets are not loaning Adam Fantilli, nor did USA Hockey select 2024 projected second-overall pick Cole Eiserman to the preliminary roster. Nonetheless, it’s a stacked group of prospects that will once again challenge for a medal. The full roster is as follows:
F Gavin Brindley (Blue Jackets, 2023, 34th overall)
F Quinn Finley (Islanders, 2022, 78th overall)
F Cutter Gauthier (Flyers, 2022, 5th overall)
F James Hagens (2025 draft-eligible)
F Gavin Hayes (Blackhawks, 2022, 66th overall)
F Isaac Howard (Lightning, 2022, 31st overall)
F Ryan Leonard (Capitals, 2023, 8th overall)
F Rutger McGroarty (Jets, 2022, 14th overall)
F Oliver Moore (Blackhawks, 2023, 19th overall)
F Frank Nazar (Blackhawks, 2022, 13th overall)
F Danny Nelson (Islanders, 2023, 49th overall)
F Gabriel Perreault (Rangers, 2023, 23rd overall)
F Will Smith (Sharks, 2023, 4th overall)
F Jimmy Snuggerud (Blues, 2022, 23rd overall)
F Carey Terrance (Ducks, 2023, 59th overall)
F William Whitelaw (Blue Jackets, 2023, 66th overall)
D Zeev Buium (2024 draft-eligible)
D Seamus Casey (Devils, 2022, 46th overall)
D Ryan Chesley (Capitals, 2022, 37th overall)
D Drew Fortescue (Rangers, 2023, 90th overall)
D Patrick Geary (went undrafted in 2022, 2023)
D Lane Hutson (Canadiens, 2022, 62nd overall)
D Jake Livanavage (went undrafted in 2022, 2023)
D Aram Minnetian (Stars, 2023, 125th overall)
D Eric Pohlkamp (Sharks, 2023, 132nd overall)
D Sam Rinzel (Blackhawks, 2022, 25th overall)
G Trey Augustine (Red Wings, 2023, 41st overall)
G Jacob Fowler (Canadiens, 2023, 69th overall)
G Sam Hillebrandt (went undrafted in 2023)
There are eight returning members from last year’s team, which captured the bronze medal: Augustine, Brindley, Casey, Chesley, Gauthier, Hutson, McGroarty, and Snuggerud. The Blackhawks lead the way with prospects represented on the preliminary roster with four.
Does Fantilli have dual citizenship?
he is Canadien.
Fantilli is Canadian, fyi.
Shocked Eiserman isn’t going to be on the team. Was really hoping Cooley would be back. Still a pretty strong U.S. squad though.
Seven current Boston College Eagles on that list. It’s a good thing that BC has no games between December 9 and January 12 because they’d be missing their best players if they did
Man c’mon why do they have to take 4 Gophers? Lol!
Especially Jimmy snipes and Ryan Chesley?
Have no problem with more and rinzel going though…really glad justen Close is a 5th year senior about now though lol!
Then again every other time when the kids go the Gophers end up playing better as a team so…maybe it’s a good thing.
Will just have to wait and see i guess.
#SkiUMah
#PrideOnIce
Still think Will Smith’s position should be changed from “F” to “MiB”. Give him the flashy-thingy and he owns PP1!