The selection process for the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship will begin at the World Junior Summer Showcase which opens July 27 in Plymouth, Michigan. Two split squads of U.S. candidates will compete against Sweden, Finland and each other over the course of the event, which concludes August 4.

The World Junior Summer Showcase has taken on many forms over the years, with USA starting with split squads, cutting the roster down in the middle of camp and moving forward with one team. That will not be the case this year, however, as the split squads will remain intact over the course of the event. There could be player swaps as the coaching staff looks to find out which players might gel together, but the schedule includes split-squad games the whole way through.

After announcing the original camp roster of all of the invites, USA Hockey has revealed how they will be splitting up Team USA Blue and Team USA White. Here's a quick look at each roster as well as some takeaways.

* - Returnee from 2023 World Junior Championship roster

Team USA White Roster

Goalies

Trey Augustine* (Detroit Red Wings), Tyler Muszelik (Florida Panthers), Hampton Slukynsky (Los Angeles Kings)

Defensemen

Vinny Borgesi (Undrafted), Ryan Chesley* (Washington Capitals),  Jackson Dorrington (Vancouver Canucks), Drew Fortescue (New York Rangers), Lane Hutson* (Montreal Canadiens), Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose Sharks), Sam Rinzel (Chicago Blackhawks), Zach Schulz (New York Islanders)

Forwards

Cole Eiserman (2024), Cutter Gauthier* (Philadelphia Flyers), Isaac Howard (Tampa Bay Lightning), Devin Kaplan (Philadelphia Flyers), Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals), Tanner Ludtke (Arizona Coyotes), Rutger McGroarty* (Winnipeg Jets), Frank Nazar (Chicago Blackhawks), Jimmy Snuggerud* (St. Louis Blues), Charlie Stramel* (Minnesota Wild), Carey Terrance (Anaheim Ducks), William Whitelaw (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Team USA Blue Roster

Goalies

Andrew Oke* (Undrafted), Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens)

Defense

Garrett Brown (Winnipeg Jets), Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks), Zeev Buium (2024), Seamus Casey* (New Jersey Devils), Tyler Duke (Undrafted), Paul Fischer (St. Louis Blues), Charlie Leddy (New Jersey Devils), Jake Livanavage (Undrafted)

Forwards

Gavin Brindley* (Columbus Blue Jackets), Quinn Finley (New York Islanders), James Hagens (2025), Gavin Hayes (Chicago Blackhawks), Cole Knuble (Philadelphia Flyers), Cruz Lucius (Carolina Hurricanes), Cam Lund (San Jose Sharks), Oliver Moore (Chicago Blackhawks), Quentin Musty (San Jose Sharks), Danny Nelson (New York Islanders), Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers), Will Smith (San Jose Sharks)

Roster Notes

Here are a few takeaways from the way Team USA's decision-makers structured the teams for the camp.

-- There are seven returnees from last year's team on Team White's roster, while there are just three  on Team Blue. The only player on Blue's roster that saw meaningful minutes for last year's squad was Gavin Brindley. It creates an interesting dynamic between the two teams and puts a lot of players on Team Blue to bring their best, especially when they get the chance to play against each other. Experience can really matter at this level, but the imbalance in experience could create some interesting competition with one side with a lot more to prove.

-- There will be no "2-4-9 Line" reunion in camp. Despite playing together for all of last season and likely playing together at Boston College next year, Ryan Leonard will be on Team White, while Will Smith and Gabe Perreault will be on Team Blue. I'd anticipate they play together at the World Juniors, assuming all three make it, but it's also good to get a look at them separately to see who stands out away from the familiarity and chemistry that is already built in. I think ultimately those three will be a line in the tournament.

-- The goaltending battle between incumbent starter Trey Augustine and USHL goalie of the year and Clark Cup Playoffs MVP Jacob Fowler will be among the center-stage battles during this camp. Augustine has the track record after taking over the No. 1 job at the last WJC and now a U18 Men's World Championship gold medal. Fowler, who is a 2004-born, will only have one chance at the WJC as he'll age out in 2025. I would not expect Fowler to simply let Augustine take the reins in net again without a challenge, especially not given his championship pedigree.

-- Underagers Cole Eiserman and James Hagens are also on separate rosters with the former on Team White and the latter on Team Blue. Eiserman is a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft, ranked No. 2 in FloHockey's early Top 10 list. He is getting a chance to ride shotgun with the more experienced of the two teams, while Hagens who is not draft-eligible until 2025, will be going head-to-head against his U17 linemate. Both are top-tier talents in the 2006 birth year and both have a realistic shot to play for the U.S. in this tournament. With so many returnees and a quality 2005 birth year among forwards, the young guys will still have to prove they can carry themselves as equals among older players.

-- This might be one of the most wide-open competitions for spots on a U.S. blue line in some time. Returnees Lane Hutson, Ryan Chesley and Seamus Casey (who did not dress in the last tounrmanet) are virtual locks for the roster, but beyond that is anyone's guess. The U.S. has a good mix of right- and left-shot options, but they don't have a ton of size. Players like Sam Rinzel, Drew Fortescue, Garrett Brown, and Jackson Dorrington are the biggest blueliners in camp and would add size, but the World Junior Summer Showcase will push each to prove they can play at the World Junior pace required to have success in the tournament.

-- Notably, Arizona Coyotes prospect Logan Cooley -- one of USA's top players from the last tournament -- is not participating in the camp. He was invited but declined the invitation. That is unlikely to preclude him from being on the roster as he'd be USA's No. 1 center and top forward, but his absence will be felt. It also creates some opportunities, including the possibility that Cutter Gauthier steps into the center position in this tournament after playing wing at the last World Juniors.