PLYMOUTH, Michigan – In the first day of game action at the World Junior Summer Showcase, USA coach David Carle got his first good look at the 40-plus players that are in the mix to be part of the 25-man roster for Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in December.

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With split-squad games against Finland and Sweden, the priority was to get out of summer hockey mode and into real game action. Based on the intensity of both games, that was clearly the case.

FloHockey is on the scene at the WJSS and will be providing daily coverage, including scouting reports, news, notes and other observations from the premier prospect event of the summer.

USA Lines From Day 1 at the World Junior Summer Showcase

USA White Lineup vs. Finland

Quentin Musty (SJS) – Mac Swanson (PIT) – Cole Eiserman (NYI)
Teddy Stiga (NSH) – Carey Terrance (ANA) – Tanner Adams
Becket Hendrickson (BOS) – Jake Fisher (COL) – Jayson Shaugabay (TBL)
Austin Burnevik (ANA) – LJ Mooney (2025) – James Reeder (LAK)

Cole Hutson (WSH) – Gavin McCarthy (BUF)
Colin Ralph (STL) – EJ Emery (NYR)
Zach Schulz (NYI) – Aram Minnetian (DAL)
Matt Mania (LAK)

Sam Hillebrandt
Carsen Musser (UTA)

USA Blue Lineup vs. Sweden 

Gabe Perreault (NYR) – James Hagens (2025) – Ryan Leonard (WSH)
Max Plante (DET) – Oliver Moore (CHI) – William Whitelaw (CBJ)
Brandon Svoboda (SJS) – Chris Pelosi (BOS) – Noah Powell (PHI)
Joey Willis (NSH) – Brodie Ziemer (BUF) – AJ Spellacy (CHI)

Zeev Buium (MIN) – Tory Pitner (COL)
Paul Fischer (STL) – Adam Kleber (BUF)
Andrew Strathmann (CBJ) – Lukas Fischer (STL)
John Whipple (DET)

Trey Augustine (DET)
Hampton Slukynsky (LAK)

Game 1: USA White 3, Finland 2

Summary: As most first games can be, USA White vs. Finland was a somewhat sloppy affair as both teams were getting into their rhythm. Finland took leads twice in the game off of goals from Joona Saarelainen (TBL), but Team USA was able to answer each time. The first goal came when Quentin Musty (SJS) put home his own rebound, finding some space under goalie Visa Vedenpaa (SEA). Cole Hutson (WSH) scored in the second period on a bad-angle shot that found the far post and went in. In the final minute of the game, Hutson made another crafty offensive play, getting away from two Finnish forwards at the offensive blue line before the puck slipped right to the stick of James Reeder who drilled a one-time shot inside the left post to give USA White the win.

USA White vs. Finland Scouting Reports

Cole Hutson, D (WSH)

Hutson finished the game with a goal and an assist. We saw the positives and negatives of his game including a few turnovers and a penalty during a power play. But the offensive element he brings to the ice and the way he can create threatening plays with his skill could be a difference-making component that puts him on the U.S. roster later this year. There’s a lot to like about where his game is heading.

Quentin Musty, LW (SJS)

After missing out on last year’s team, Musty is being given good chances to make his case here in Plymouth. He scored a goal in the game and also made a number of other positive plays. I think his pace has improved some, which was an issue last year and remains a knock on the gifted goal-scorer’s game. He has good touch with the puck and I think if it wasn’t the first game of summer, he would have finished a few more plays with a little bit of refined execution.

LJ Mooney, C (2025)

Invited late to the camp, Mooney is a long shot to make USA’s roster, but the 5-foot-6 dynamo still showed why he belongs with this group. He has higher-end skill and a motor that doesn’t quit. He made a few nifty plays and was on the ice for the game-winning goal for USA White. He is certainly trying to make the most of his chance in camp.

Carsen Musser, G (UTA)

Musser stopped all 12 shots he faced in the second half of the game, including a couple of Grade-A scoring chances against. The big netminder spent an extra year in the USHL, putting together a strong season with Madison. Off to Colorado College this season, he may not get the playing time behind incumbent starter Kaiden Mbereko, so this camp is a great chance to show what he can do and if he gets enough of a look, he’ll be more in the mix. He had a strong showing in his first action in camp.

Joona Saarelainen, LW (TBL)

With two goals in the game, he was rewarded for being one of Finland’s best players all afternoon. Saarelainen doesn’t have much in the way of size, but he’s quick and he’s got enough shiftiness and skill to make some plays. It was a solid showing from his line as a whole with Tom Leppa and Heikki Ruohonen. They just gave the U.S. problems and Saarelainen was the guy finishing those good chances they created.

Heikki Ruohonen, RW (PHI) 

A solid fore-checker and energetic player, I thought Ruohonen was a big factor in forcing turnovers and making plays off of those turnovers. He finished with two assists and showed both his smarts and effort in setting up Saarelainen. That line was Finland’s most threatening throughout.

Visa Vedenpaa, G (SEA)

Despite the result, I thought Vendenpaa held his own very well in the game. He got a lot of work and made some very difficult saves including robbing Cole Eiserman on a 2-on-1. He stopped 25 shots of the 28 he faced in the game.

Game 2 – USA Blue 7, Sweden 2

Summary: USA Blue had a lot of the returning players from last year’s World Juniors and it showed. They dominated a slightly shorthanded Swedish team (see why below) and got it started early. Max Plante (DET) finished off a pretty passing play from USA Blue to make it 1-0 just 4:15 in the game. Brandon Svoboda (SJS) added to the tally after Zeev Buium (MIN) made a creative play to get the puck to the net and Svoboda scored off the rebound. With 3:55 left in the opening frame, Brodie Ziemer (BUF) popped out from the corner and flipped a backhand shot past Olof Glifford to make it 3-0. Gabe Perreault (NYR) scored a pair of nice goals in the second period, the first on the power play and the second off of a nice give-and-go with Ryan Leonard (WSH). Trey Augustine (DET), who played the first two periods in net, stopped all 10 shots he faced. Goals from Lukas Fischer (STL) and Oliver Moore. Sweden got a pair of late power-play goals on Hampton Slukynsky (LAK), who replaced Augustine in the third period.

USA Blue Scouting Reports

Zeev Buium, D (MIN)

Buium was especially involved in the game, making creative plays offensively, engaging physically and defending well. He had two assists in the game and made a lot of plays with his feet. Buium put a few players in the spin cycle with his quick changes of direction. His spot on next year’s team is secure, but he still put on a show. He did get a little more agitated with the Swedish players as well, getting involved more in extra stuff after the whistle, which was a common theme in the game. 

Gabe Perreault, LW (NYR)

Perreault’s smarts haven’t dulled at all, not that anyone thought they would. He made a ton of plays that ended up on the right sticks or put pucks in the right spot. He scored two goals in the second period and so much of what makes him effective is how quickly he decides what to do with the puck. He always seems to be a step ahead, even in July. Coach David Carle also mentioned that he looks stronger this year and that was evident in some of the puck battles he won.

Ryan Leonard, RW (WSH)

This game could have been played in the parking lot in shoes and Leonard still would have found a way to agitate his opponents. He was physical and aggressive like always and drew a ton of attention from the opposing players, sometimes drawing a penalty as a result. He also had an assist, but was frustrated he couldn't find the back of the net. Leonard said after the game that being part of this team probably was close to "75%" of why he chose not to sign with Washington. He is looking forward to wearing the USA jersey again at the World Juniors.

Paul Fischer, D (STL)

Fischer isn’t a flashy player, but he makes a lot of effective plays and did so again in this game. He ended up with two assists, showing some improved touch on the puck as well. Fischer moves well, keeps things in front of him and often makes good decisions with the puck. I thought he made a number of high-quality plays that made a positive impact for his team.

Max Plante, LW (DET)

Plante is being given some really good looks with this team, playing on USA Blue’s first power play unit with Hagens, Leonard, Perreault and Buium. He is a very smart player who makes good decisions with the puck and has some creativity. There’s also a good work ethic there and he showed off his speed at various points. I think he made a positive impression with the maturity of his game. 

Noah Powell, RW (PHI)

Though Powell was quite a goal scorer this season with Dubuque, he played a lower-lineup role, killed penalties and drew a lot of attention from Swedish players with his agitating play. Powell blocked shots, made some good physical plays and never quit on pucks. He adapted to a role that was much different than the one he played last year and showed that if USA needs him to do that kind of thing, he’s willing and able. That’s a good impression to give the staff for a roster that will be very difficult to make in the winter.

James Hagens 2025 NHL Draft Report

As the top draft-eligible prospect playing for USA at the World Junior Summer Showcase, FloHockey will give you a look at how Hagens has been performing in the first evaluation event of his draft year.

Hagens centered USA Blue's top line against Sweden, playing along future Boston College teammates (and almost certainly linemates) Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. Taking over for Will Smith, who signed with the San Jose Sharks in the spring, Hagens plays a very similar role to Smith and it shows. He was able to distribute pucks, but you can tell there is still some chemistry to be sorted out with Leonard and Perreault, who had played together each of the last three years. 

Hagens was making a lot of plays, getting pucks to the interior and creating space for his linemates. Perreault was more of a driver over the course of the game, but Hagens was getting good touches and creating on his own. I also liked the way Hagens competed in a physical game that got chippy at times. He's added a little more snarl to his game, even if that will never be a standout trait. My expectation is that he'll be centering Perreault and Leonard at the World Juniors unless San Jose wants to make Smith available. 

In speaking with Ryan Leonard after the game, he sees all the similarities between Hagens and Smith, especially with how they make plays and how smart they both are. He is confident the trio will find their chemistry and is excited about the new-look line for both BC and USA.

News and notes from camp

• USA Blue’s first power-play unit in Game 2 featured Ryan Leonard (WSH), Gabe Perreault (NYR), James Hagens (2025), Zeev Buium (MIN) and Max Plante (DET). They accounted for one power-play goal, but really looked like it could be a dangerous group. Plante did a nice job in the bumper position with some of the bigger stars on the team, while Perreault and Leonard continued to play off each other expertly.
• USA Blue's William Whitelaw (CBJ) got a major and a game misconduct for slew-footing in the third period of the team's 7-2 win. 
• Sweden had a number of players whose gear did not arrive in time for their first game. They had enough to put a full roster together, but U.S. U18 goalie Joey Slavick served as Sweden’s backup as two of Sweden’s three netminders were still waiting on their pads.

Roster Updates

• USA will have returnees Drew Fortescue (NYR) and Danny Nelson (NYI) in camp, but neither will play in the games this week for "maintenance" purposes. Both are likely to be part of USA’s roster in Ottawa. Nelson
• Sweden’s Tom Willander, initially named to the roster for this event, will not participate due to injury.