PLYMOUTH, Mich. – The second day of games at the World Junior Summer Showcase brought two competitive affairs as USA Blue took on Finland and USA White met Sweden.

The U.S. teams won both games again, but both were highly competitive, physical games that provided a good evaluation opportunity for head coach David Carle and his staff.

Here’s a look at some of the standouts and other observations from Day 2.

Team USA Blue Lineup vs. Finland

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

Zeev Buium (MIN) – Adam Kleber (BUF)
Paul Fischer (STL) – Tory Pitner (COL)
Andrew Strathmann (CBJ) – Lukas Fischer (STL)
John Whipple (DET) – Logan Hensler (2025)

Hampton Slukynsky (LAK)
Sam Hillebrandt 

Power Play Units For USA Blue:

1: Buium, Hagens, Perreault, Plante, Leonard

2: Strathmann, Whitelaw, Moore, Pelosi, Powell

3. Hensler, Spellacy, Willis, Svoboda, Ziemer

Team USA White Lines vs. Sweden

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

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

Carsen Musser (UTA)
Nick Kempf (WSH)

Power Play Units for USA White:

1. Hutson, Eiserman, Musty, Swanson, Reeder

2. Mania, Shaugabay, Terrance, Mooney, Hendrickson

Game 1: USA Blue 5, Finland 3

Goals scored by: USA: Ziemer (2), Hagens, Leonard, Willis; FIN: Sebastian Soini (MIN), Jesse Nurmi (NYI), Topias Hynninen

Team USA Blue vs. Finland Scouting Reports

Brodie Ziemer, RW (BUF)

Ziemer popped in a pair of goals from in tight to the net. Beyond the production, he is showing what kind of role he could conceivably play if USA wants to bring him to Ottawa. Ziemer has a good motor and work ethic off the puck, but he also wins a lot of puck battles. Two of his three goals from this tournament have come out of winning pucks off the wall and taking it to the net. He doesn’t have a lot of flash, but he is smart and can make the plays.

Brandon Svoboda, C (SJS)

Through two games, Svoboda has five points to lead the camp. He’s made simple, smart plays and has shown off improved skating that has made him a bigger factor in a camp at this pace. He’s using his big frame well and being a disruptive player on top of being a productive one. If he’s going to make Team USA, it’s likely in a fourth-line role.

Oliver Moore, C (CHI)

There is so much to like about Oliver Moore’s game. There’s still more for him to put together offensively as he needs to refine his finishing, but he impacts the game in so many ways. His speed is a weapon in more ways than one and his ability to get behind defenders makes him a continual transition threat. He also showed why his speed is an asset on the back check.

Lukas Fischer, D (STL)

I’ve been impressed with Fischer. I don’t know that he will make Team USA, but I do think he’s introducing himself to this staff well. He’s defended well and despite taking a couple of penalties, he’s also found the scoresheet. He assisted Joey Willis’s goal against Finland and has showed good-enough touch on the puck. He was a player I was interested to see in this environment and he’s held his own.

Sebastian Soini, D (MIN)

Soini scored a goal and I thought he moved the puck well for a bigger player. Most of all, he was decisive with what he did with the puck on his stick. He didn’t stand out a ton over the course of the game besides the goal, but I liked the way he was moving pucks and playing sturdily. 

Game 2: USA White 2, Sweden 1

Goal Summary: USA: Musty, Stiga; SWE: Victor Eklund (2025)

Team USA White vs. Sweden Scouting Reports

Teddy Stiga, LW (NSH)

Stiga was noticeable all game and I really liked the way his line with Mac Swanson and James Reeder played against Sweden. They were on a lot of pucks, providing some disruption to what the Swedes were trying to do. Stiga also scored a goal off of a high tip, was solid on the forecheck and was taking players off pucks. His motor just keeps running and that gives him a chance to find a role on the team, perhaps down the lineup.

Mac Swanson, C (PIT)

Swanson has shown well in this camp. He’s seeing the ice well and has handled the pace of play especially well. His lack of physical stature hasn’t seemed to hold him back here and he’s being aggressive in hard areas of the ice. He’s probably a long shot to make this team given the quality they have at center, but I do think he’s proven he belongs with this group.

Cole Hutson, D (WSH)

Hutson had a more consistent, impactful game against Sweden. He is so aggressive with the puck on his stick, but he made better decisions and still was allowed to be a threat. He had multiple zone entries of his own, limited turnovers and still showed that he has immense vision and awareness in the offensive zone. He didn’t hit the score sheet in the game, but he was a threat and even showed a little snarl in a physical game against Sweden.

Carey Terrance, C (ANA)

David Carle commented on Terrance’s improvement year over year, particularly in the strength he has tacked on. The speed has been evident, but Terrance is proving he has the physical game and the aggressiveness to be part of USA in a depth role. His speed is a factor, but he’s able to do more when he gets to where he’s going, too.

Victor Eklund, RW (2025)

Scoring Sweden’s only goal of the game, Eklund made his presence felt with a nice shot off the rush. He has good pace and can get behind the opposing defense. Eklund wasn’t always noticeable, but he was one of the better offensive performers over the course of the game. He’s not getting power-play time here, but Sweden did put him out on the ice with the game on the line.

Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D (SJS)

In a much better game overall for Sweden, Sahlin Wallenius made multiple plays at both ends that showed his two-way quality. He has good vision and makes higher-end decisions with the puck. His ability to scan the ice and find the right options quickly is a standout trait, but he also has a good defensive stick and kills plays frequently. I think he’s a strong candidate to make this team as a 2006 birth year.

Additional observations, news and notes

- USA’s team speed is going to be very difficult to contend with. Most of the players in camp can really move, which should make USA dangerous in transition and competitive in all zones. The pace of play, despite this being July speaks to the quality of the players, but the number of excellent skaters really stands out. 

- The battle to be Trey Augustine’s backup at this tournament is wide open. Each of the goalies has had some nice moments, but there’s no one that has really stood out above the rest. USHL goalie of the year Hampton Slukynsky (LAK) might have the inside track, but Sam Hillebrandt and Carsen Musser (UTA) have had some good looks and Nick Kempf (WSH) has only had half a game of action so far. USA has quality at the position, but they also have a clear No. 1 in Augustine, which is a luxury at this stage.

- Cole Eiserman (NYI) hasn’t hit the score sheet in camp and hasn’t seemed to find a rhythm yet. USA’s staff moved him around the USA White lineup today, getting him with the top power play and also playing more with underager LJ Mooney who is more of a pass-first player. It just hasn’t quite clicked yet. It’s summer, so you take it with a grain of salt, but it was harder to find a player who is rarely unnoticeable in a game. But I will also say, even at times he’s been unproductive, he’s had some looks and few players can provide the scoring threat he does every time he’s out there.

- Team USA’s blue line is seemingly taking shape. There are a few players who I don’t think we’ll see in the mix, but all of the returnees have been solid. You figure each are locks, but there will probably be three to four spots that are going to be an open competition. I think Cole Hutson (WSH) is also making a great case to be USA’s PP2 point man behind Zeev Buium (MIN). It is going to be interesting to see how they fill out the rest of that group.

- Head coach David Carle revealed that the staff is now entering phase two of the camp which means that they are going to let the returning players rest and not play them anymore. They want to get a look at the other players who have a bit more to prove.