![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1785881529_321_image.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\nUSA\u2019s gold medal streak came to a close on home ice last year following a quarterfinal loss to the eventual tournament champs, Sweden. Could they get themselves back on the podium in the land of their biggest rival, Canada?<\/p>\n
The World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor last week was definitely a good start. It was challenging to judge the team\u2019s true performance, given that they started with two teams before using a mix-and-match lineup for the second half. But USA\u2019s 7-2 victory over the Canadians on the final day was precisely the boost the team needed heading into Alberta.<\/p>\n
USA\u2019s 2007- and 2008-born crops haven\u2019t done a ton of winning in recent memory. The Americans won bronze with the 2025 U-18 World Championship group, but failed to medal at all in 2026. They took home silver at the 2023 U-17 World Challenge but didn\u2019t medal in 2024. They did win the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, though, but I wouldn\u2019t expect too many players from that roster to make the final WJC lineup.<\/p>\n
The United States should be in medal contention, no question about it. It\u2019s far from the deepest lineup they\u2019ve brought to the big dance, but that\u2019s the case for most of the major contenders this year. So, who knows? Maybe it\u2019ll work out. Today, we\u2019re doing a super early roster projection after watching most of the group battle it out in Windsor over the past week:<\/p>\n
FORWARDS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Credit: Steven Ellis<\/p>\n
Brooks Rogowski (Steven Ellis\/The Nation Network)<\/p>\n
Mikey Berchild (CAR) \u2013\u00a0Wyatt Cullen (NSH) \u2013 Ethan Wyttenbach (CGY)
Will Horcoff (PIT) \u2013\u00a0Cole McKinney (SJS) \u2013\u00a0L.J. Mooney (MTL)
Cullen Potter (CGY) \u2013\u00a0Brooks Rogowski (VAN) \u2013\u00a0Mason West (CHI)
Carter Sanderson (PIT)\u2013 Sammy Nelson (2027) \u2013 Teddy Mutryn (SJS)
Jacob Kvasnicka (NYI), Victor Plante (DET)<\/p>\n
USA found some solid chemistry at the WJSS, starting with the Berchild\/Cullen\/Wyttenbach line. That trio should stay together at all costs; they were dominant in the offensive zone and an absolute pain in the rear end to deal with in the defensive zone. Berchild was the playmaker, Cullen was the two-way threat and Wyttenbach couldn\u2019t stop scoring if he tried. This is an easy line to keep together, as is the massive duo of Rogowski and West. They\u2019re both huge forwards, and while their skillsets might cancel eachother out a bit, it was clear they were better together during the WJSS than apart. They both know how to use their frames, and, more importantly, they\u2019re strong skaters for their size. Rogowski, in particular, was one of the best players in Windsor, and may have solidified a spot on the final roster as long as he starts strong this year.<\/p>\n
The second line is full of returnees. I wanted to see more out of Horcoff at last year\u2019s event, but he was still one of the NCAA\u2019s most lethal shooters. Mooney didn\u2019t put up a ton of points at the summer showcase, but I did feel like he made the team more dangerous on the track every time he was in the lineup. You could tell they were missing his speed and skill when he was an healthy scratch. McKinney didn\u2019t play at the WJSS, but I like his overall round game and it feels like he\u2019s going to be a good fit for this team in a bigger role than he had last year.<\/p>\n
I think Mutryn deserves a spot on this team after an excellent showing in a bottom-six role in Windsor. You could argue his brother, Casey, could also fill a fourth-line wing role, but Teddy has the age advantage and is a better skater. In a pure energy role, Mutryn is extremely valuable. Sanderson had a productive start to the WJSS and while he was best alongside Rogowski and West, I think the idea of putting him on the fourth line with the ability to get in front of the net and pick up the odd rebound is a good start. I wasn\u2019t sure where to put Plante, but he\u2019s a stout playmaker who does a lot of damage on the power play, and that could push him up the lineup if needed.<\/p>\n
DEFENSEMEN<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1785881530_610_image.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Credit: Steven Ellis<\/p>\n
Chase Reid (Steven Ellis\/The Nation Network)<\/p>\n
Henry Brzustewicz (LAK) \u2013 Chase Reid (SEA)
Asher Barnett (EDM) \u2013 Tommy Bleyl (NSH)
Jacob Rombach (NSH) \u2013 Carter Amico (PHI)
Drew Schock (ANA) \u2013 Blake Fiddler (SEA)<\/p>\n
The Americans will have one of the best defensemen at the tournament in Reid. He was spectacular at this event a year ago and was the most noticeable defender at the WJSS, as well. Had he not committed to Michigan State, he could have easily made a run at cracking the Kraken this year. His two-way game and overall hockey sense are just a step above the rest, and it\u2019ll be fun watching him try and bring gold back south of the border. <\/p>\n
As for the other returnee, Barnett is a defensively reliable option who probably won\u2019t push the needle with the puck, but won\u2019t make many mistakes. Brzustewicz likely should have been there in Minnesota last year, but I expect him to play quite a bit as a hard-hitting, two-way threat. For a bit more offensive juice, Bleyl had a huge season in the QMJHL last season as one of the top puck-movers in the league. I\u2019m not fully convinced he\u2019ll be a top-four defender at this event, but I\u2019m in favor of him taking some of Reid\u2019s ice time away to keep Reid a bit more rested for bigger moments.<\/p>\n
The guy who really impressed me at the WJSS was Amico. Amico was outstanding at this tournament, creating some high-quality offensive chances every single night. He\u2019s one of those guys that really had to find a way to play their way onto the main roster, but I know the coaching staff had to love what they saw with his two-way game. Amico\u2019s bread and butter is taking space away swiftly and effectively, but the up-ice puck rushes were a nice touch, as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
GOALTENDERS<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1785881530_730_image.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Credit: Steven Ellis<\/p>\n
Harrison Boettiger (Steven Ellis\/The Nation Network)<\/p>\n
Brady Knowling (SJS)
Ryder Fetterolf (CAR)
Harrison Boettiger (2027)<\/p>\n
I think this is a stronger goalie trio than the one we saw in Minnesota last year. Knowling was USA\u2019s third goalie a year ago, and even got a surprising start \u2013 although, it definitely didn\u2019t go to plan. USA Hockey didn\u2019t bring him to the summer showcase, but they didn\u2019t need to, given he\u2019s been the US NTDP goalie for two years and has that World Junior experience. Regardless, his big frame and athleticism are impressive, although I definitely wish his glove hand was significantly quicker than it actually is. He\u2019s a project goalie, but a guy that many scouts really believe in. <\/p>\n
I thought Boettiger was the most consistent U.S. goalie during the summer showcase and was happy with his rookie WHL campaign, even if he wasn\u2019t ultimately drafted. He\u2019s had solid numbers the last couple of years and has stolen his fair share of games. USA Hockey seems to like him, and I think he deserves to be on the final roster. Fetteroff didn\u2019t have a lot of experience with USA Hockey before the summer showcase, but really impressed in that game against Canada. He\u2019s not a huge goalie, but he\u2019s so athletic to the point where he could be one of those smaller goalies who makes it work. <\/p>\n
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF NEWSLETTER<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1785881531_192_image.png\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n