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2024 IIHF World Junior Championship

2024 World Juniors: Team USA Selection Camp Roster Instant Analysis

2024 World Juniors: Team USA Selection Camp Roster Instant Analysis

USA Hockey announced its selection camp roster ahead of the 2024 World Junior Championship. Prospect analyst Chris Peters breaks it all down.

Dec 4, 2023 by Chris Peters
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The U.S. National Junior Team is a step closer to being finalized for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. USA Hockey announced Monday the roster for its final selection camp, which will begin Dec. 14 in Plymouth, Mich., before the team leaves for Sweden.

The camp will include 16 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders. Team USA can bring 22 skaters and three goaltenders, but will only be able to roster 20 and three at the actual tournament. Any player replaced over the course of the tournament will not be able to return once replaced.

In the end, USA will have to cut at least five or so players the day before the tournament opens, which is Dec. 26.

FloHockey’s Chris Peters will be on hand at the camp and covering the tournament live from Gothenburg. Here is his breakdown of the roster, who made the camp, who didn’t and a projected depth chart.

Team USA Preliminary Roster

Gavin Brindley (CBJ), Quinn Finley (NYI), Cutter Gauthier (PHI), James Hagens (2025), Gavin Hayes (CHI), Isaac Howard (TBL), Ryan Leonard (WSH), Oliver Moore (CHI), Danny Nelson (NYI), Gabe Perreault (NYR), Jimmy Snuggerud (STL), Carey Terrance (ANA), William Whitelaw (CBJ)

Zeev Buium (2024), Seamus Casey (NJD), Ryan Chesley (WSH), Drew Fortescue (NYR), Patrick Geary, Lane Hutson (MTL), Jake Livanavage, Aram Minnetian (DAL), Eric Pohlkamp (SJS)

Trey Augustine (DET), Jacob Fowler (MTL), Sam Hillebrandt

Forwards

Will Smith, C, Boston College (SJS)

A play-driving center who put together one of the best Under-18 World Championship performances ever last spring, Smith will play a critical role in USA’s offense.

Cutter Gauthier, C/W, Boston College (PHI)

 Able to play down the middle or on the wing, Gauthier will be looked to as a source of consistent goal scoring, while also providing a power presence in USA’s lineup.

Ryan Leonard, RW, Boston College (WSH)

 A physical forward with skill and high-end scoring ability, Leonard is a do-everything forward that will be particularly useful in the most contentious games that need a little bit of edge.

Gabe Perreault, LW, Boston College (NYR)

Elite playmaking ability and built-in chemistry with BC linemates Smith and Leonard, Perreault set the record for points in a single season at the NTDP last year and is off to a hot start as a true freshman.

Gavin Brindley, RW, Michigan (CBJ)

A returning player who can fit into a variety of roles, Brindley will likely be one of USA’s primary penalty killers and his speed/tenacity combo makes him a natural as F1 on the forecheck. Brindley’s high-energy will come in handy.

Rutger McGroarty, LW, Michigan (WPG)

An upper-body injury leaves McGroarty's status in doubt, but he's on the roster and will be given every chance to be healthy. If he's good to go, USA is better for it.

Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, Minnesota (STL)

 A goal-scoring weapon who can also be difficult to play against down low, Snuggerud should see significant time on USA’s power play and be looked to as a big-play threat.

James Hagens, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team (2025)

The youngest player in camp is among the most talented as Hagens has the speed-skill combo that should allow him to play an elevated role in Team USA’s lineup. He was among the best players in the summer camp and could play a top-six role for this squad if he rises to the occasion.

Frank Nazar III, C, Michigan (CHI)

After missing so much time last season due to injury, which knocked him out of playing in this tournament, Nazar is healthy and playing at a high level. He was one of the top players in summer camp and has been especially productive as a sophomore with Michigan, posting 18 points in 18 games.

Oliver Moore, C/W, Minnesota (CHI)

Moore's speed and ability to play in a lot of different situations gives him a good shot at making the roster. He can be on the penalty kill and can be an aggressive forechecker, which will be a critical role for Team USA every shift. Having more guys that can play like that helps a lot.

Isaac Howard, LW, Michigan State (TBL)

A highly-skilled playmaker who has some history with Nazar, Howard has rediscovered his offensive touch as a sophomore following his transfer to Michigan State.

Gavin Hayes, RW, Flint Firebirds (CHI)

A big forward on pace for 50-plus goals in the OHL, Hayes has the ability to play down the lineup and fill a role for Team USA.

Danny Nelson, C/W, Notre Dame (NYI)

A big forward that can play on both ends of the ice, Nelson has had a quietly excellent freshman season for Notre Dame with 14 points in 18 games. He’s a fit to be a depth center.

William Whitelaw, LW, Wisconsin (CBJ)

After playing some of his best hockey in last year’s Clark Cup Playoffs, Whitelaw has some championship pedigree to fall back on. While Whitelaw has a good dose of skill, he also plays an abrasive brand of hockey that can get under opponents’ skin.

Carey Terrance, RW, Erie Otters (ANA)

Terrance has had a remarkable start to the season and plays a fast game that could fit down USA's lineup. His ability to fit a lot of different roles.

Quinn Finley, LW, Wisconsin (NYI)

Finley has had a solid season for the upstart Badgers. He has good skill, but I do think he could be a long shot to make this roster. That said, he's in camp and he's got every chance to prove himself.

Defense

Lane Hutson, LHD, Boston University (MTL)

USA’s No. 1 defenseman and among the most dynamic blueliners you’ll see anywhere, Hutson will need to produce from the back end and likely runs USA’s top power play unit.

Ryan Chesley, RHD, Minnesota (WSH)

A right-shot defenseman with good defensive skills, Chesley and Hutson have some built-in chemistry and could make up USA’s top pairing. 

Seamus Casey, RHD, Michigan (NJD)

The top scoring defenseman in the NCAA with 23 points so far, Casey has been spectacular as a sophomore. He’s an excellent skater and has a good nose for how to get pucks up ice quickly.

Zeev Buium, LHD, Denver (2024)

 Recently named the co-National Player of the Month in college hockey after a torrid scoring pace in November, Buium is playing his way into an elevated role for Team USA. You can put him on the power play, but the expectation will be for him to be a threat at 5-on-5.

Sam Rinzel, RHD, Minnesota (CHI)

Rinzel has had some good moments and some bad in his freshman year at Minnesota, but he’s a big, rangey defenseman who can do some very interesting things with the puck. 

Drew Fortescue, LHD, Boston College (NYR)

An especially mobile defenseman who uses his feet well to defend, Fortescue has made some impressive strides as a freshman with BC. He could play his way into bigger minutes if he proves he can defend top lines.

Eric Pohlkamp, RHD, Bemidji State (SJS)

Pohlkamp is an abrasive, physical player despite not being an especially big player. He also has a powerful shot and could potentially give the U.S. some needed grit on the back end.

Aram Minnetian, RHD, Boston College (DAL)

Not in the summer camp, which was a bit of a surprise, but he's in the winter camp. Minnetian has World U18 experience and was a top defenseman for Team USA at the last U18 Worlds. If he makes this roster, it is likely in a depth role.

Jake Livanavage, LHD, North Dakota

A talented offensive defenseman in the USHL, Livanavage has been more effective on the defensive side of things in college. He’s not a particularly big player, but he’s had a good season staying above pucks and doing a good job of getting pucks out of his zone.

Patrick Geary, LHD, Michigan State

USA’s desperate search for some balance to their blue line landed them on the undrafted Geary, who was not invited to the summer camp. Geary is 6-foot-1 and defends with some physicality. 

Goalies

Trey Augustine, Michigan State (DET)

The incumbent starter, Augustine will have some competition in camp. He’s had some ups and downs in his freshman season, but international experience is no small thing.

Jacob Fowler, Boston College (MTL)

After winning the Clark Cup with Youngstown, Fowler has been one of the best goalies in college hockey this season and is making a strong case that he deserves starts in Sweden. 

Sam Hillebrandt, Barrie Colts

Undrafted and largely unknown, Hillebrandt is making the U.S. roster thanks to a solid start with Barrie. He's unlikely to see much ice time with two No. 1 candidates ahead of him.

Notable players not on the roster

Logan Cooley, C, Arizona Coyotes: Not released to compete by the Coyotes, Cooley’s absence will certainly be felt, but it was far from a surprise he would not be available.

Hunter Brzustewicz, RHD, Kitchener Rangers (VAN): Among defensemen, there was no bigger surprise. Brzustewicz is on pace to score over 100 points in the OHL. He had a good-enough showing in summer camp and has good mobility. USA has a very offensive blue line as is and that’s one of the big problems. They already have a lot of the same player, two of which were on the team last year and one that is currently lighting up the NCAA for the same coach that will run Team USA. To not even be invited to camp, however, is pretty surprising. I think he should be there. Might not have made the team, but I would have liked to have seen him in this environment.

Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin (MIN): Stramel has really struggled this year and didn’t have the best camp. I thought body of work and his experience would help him make the team, but this was a justifiable cut. I still think Stramel has a bright future and this will not define him, but he would have been a three-time invitee, which is a pretty exclusive club and to not even make the camp is surely disappointing.

Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team (2024): There might be some hand-wringing about this one and I thought if McGroarty was out Eiserman would have a good shot at making camp. That said, he wasn’t going to play in this team’s top six and if he’s not there, he’s not going to play. You can never have enough goal scoring, but I think the U.S. has enough guys that can score and do other things as well. Cole Caufield, who was a similarly impressive goal scorer didn’t make the World Juniors as an underager either.

Quentin Musty, RW, Sudbury Wolves (SJS): It wasn't a huge surprise for me that Musty was not invited to the camp. He is best in a role up the lineup and those spots were very scarce. Some players showed more versatility in camp to play down the U.S. lineup and have a bit more pace, too.

Projected Depth Chart For Camp (not a lineup)

Forwards

Cutter Gauthier – James Hagens – Jimmy Snuggerud

Gabe Perreault – Will Smith – Ryan Leonard

Rutger McGroarty – Frank Nazar – Gavin Brindley

Oliver Moore – Danny Nelson – Gavin Hayes

Isaac Howard - William Whitelaw - Carey Terrance

Quinn Finley

Defense

Lane Hutson – Ryan Chesley

Zeev Buium – Seamus Casey

Drew Fortescue – Sam Rinzel

Jake Livanavage – Eric Pohlkamp

Patrick Geary – Aram Minnetian

Goalies

Trey Augustine OR Jacob Fowler

Sam Hillebrandt