PLYMOUTH, Michigan – Team USA has entered the second phase of its evaluation camp as players continue trying to showcase why they belong at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

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All players that were part of last year’s gold-medal team have concluded their on-ice testing and will no longer participate, giving the staff an opportunity to get additional looks at players that might fit into roles on the roster. With Team USA bringing back the entire staff from last year, they already know those players. So we won’t be seeing Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault, Oliver Moore, Trey Augustine, Drew Fortescue, Danny Nelson and Zeev Buium for the remainder of camp. 

Head coach David Carle said the rest of the players have to show what kind of roles they can play and make their case. They’ll have plenty of chance to do that over the final days of the camp starting with Wednesday.

The Finns became the first European team to earn a win at this year's World Junior Summer Showcase, earning a 5-3 win over the U.S. squad Wednesday afternoon thanks in large part to the performance of goalie Visa Vedenpaa (more below).

Here’s what we saw from USA vs. Finland…

Team USA Lines, Defense Pairings And Goalies Vs. Finland

Cole Eiserman (NYI) – James Hagens (2025) – Brodie Ziemer (BUF)
Quentin Musty (SJS) – Carey Terrance (ANA) – James Reeder (LAK)
Mac Swanson (PIT) – Brandon Svoboda (SJS) – Max Plante (DET)
Beckett Hendrickson (BOS) – Chris Pelosi (BOS) – Noah Powell (PHI)

Cole Hutson (WSH) – Adam Kleber (BUF)
Paul Fischer (STL) – EJ Emery (NYR)
Colin Ralph (STL) – Logan Hensler (2025)
Zach Schulz (NYI)

Nick Kempf (WSH)
Hampton Slukynsky (LAK)

USA Power-Play Units

1: Hutson, Hagens, Eiserman, Plante, Ziemer

2: Kleber, Reeder, Musty, Swanson, Powell

USA 3, Finland 5

Scoring Summary – USA: Pelosi, Eiserman, Plante; Finland: Emil Kuusla x2, Rasmus Kumpulainen (MIN), Topias Hynninen, Jesse Nurmi (NYI)

Team USA vs. Finland Player Scouting Reports

James Hagens, C (2025)

Hagens looked most like himself in this game, getting his speed game going and contesting every loose puck. He also assisted on Cole Eiserman’s goal, forcing the turnover with a good stick and quickness before putting a perfect pass in Eiserman’s wheelhouse. Hagens also got feisty out there, mixing it up more with his Finnish opponents. You can see how much stronger he has gotten year-over-year, which will be critical as he transitions to college hockey.

Cole Eiserman, LW (NYI)

Eiserman also looked more himself in this game, playing with familiar linemates and putting himself in good scoring positions. He scored off a one-timer and had a couple of great looks on the power play, just missing. He still has moments where you don’t notice him as much, but he made more plays, picked up his pace and seemed more able to impact the game as opposed to the first two contests. He’s a scorer and that’s always what he will always be first and foremost but I think we saw other things that will be required of him as a top-six forward.

Adam Kleber, D (BUF)

Kleber got a look on the second power play, but I was more impressed with his defending, the ability to recover and how effectively he uses his size and mobility. Kleber has a great stick and was able to break up plays. On top of that, he was more physical when he needed to be and was able to break up plays regularly. His skating and size combination is going to give him a real chance to make this team in December, especially if he continues on the path he has been on as he heads to Minnesota Duluth.

Noah Powell, RW (PHI)

I think Powell has played his way into the conversation for making this team. He’s physical, he can make plays, he’s quick enough and he makes his presence felt almost every shift. His ability to disrupt the opposition and be dangerous with the puck when he has it is especially impressive. Every game he has played, I think he has done positive things and has shown that if USA needs him to be part of their depth, he’s going to make it worth their while to add him. We’ll see how the year progresses, but I have to think he has made an impression.

Visa Vedenpaa, G (SEA)

Vedenpaa was under siege in the game, but was outstanding. He saw 42 shots and stopped all but three of them. USA created a lot of traffic and made him move around, but he was able o play a very reserved game. He never seemed to lose his net and showed some great compete to make things more difficult for the USA shooters.

Jesse Nurmi, RW (NYI)

Nurmi scored the empty-netter to ice the game, but also had two assists earlier in the contest. He has a bit more pace than most of his teammates and is able to create a lot just off of his motor and work ethic. He won some pucks along the walls and was able to move them quickly enough to create a threat. He was noticeable most of the game.

Kalle Kangas, D (PIT)

The big Finnish defenseman had a pair of assists in the game and mad some strong defensive plays as well. He knows how to use his 6-foot-4 frame and that made it tougher for forwards to get around him. Kangas got pucks to the net and was able to make smart decisions in transition. He’s probably never going to be a high-end offensive guy, but he will be able to impact games mostly in the defensive zone and contribute the odd point.

Canada Set To Arrive In Plymouth

Canada is playing Sweden Wednesday night in Windsor. After that game, both teams will head to Plymouth for the final four games of the World Junior Summer Showcase. Canada will play Finland Friday, while Sweden will meet USA. On Saturday, Finland and Sweden will play each other before USA plays Canada in the Summer Showcase finale.

Here is how Canada lined up against Sweden on Wednesday night in Windsor:

Team 🇨🇦 lines for Wednesday game 🆚🇸🇪 at summer World Junior camp

Rehkopf - Ritchie - Wood
Nadeau - Catton - Cowan
Spence - Yager - Gauthier
Howe - Cataford - Martone

Molendyk - Yakemchuk
Chadwick - Bonk
Mynio - Parekh

George
Ratzlaff

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) July 31, 2024

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