Minnesota leads all states; roster includes 7 first-round picks

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today named 28 players to the preliminary roster of its 2025 U.S. National Junior Team. The group, which includes 10 members of the gold medal-winning 2024 U.S. National Junior Team, will convene for a training camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., from Dec. 16-17.

Eight of those players are from Minnesota, including: Logan Hensler (Woodbury/University of Wisconsin), Colin Ralph (Maple Grove/St. Cloud State University), Adam Kleber (Chaska/University of Minnesota-Duluth), Oliver Moore (Mounds View/University of Minnesota), Danny Nelson (Maple Grove/University of Notre Dame),  Austin Burnevik (Blaine/St. Cloud State University), Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson/University of Minnesota), and Hamptom Slukynsky (Warroad/Western Michigan University).

Minnesota Wild first round pick Zeev Buium (University fo Denver) is also on the roster.

Players are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario.

“We’ve got an excellent group of players coming to our camp,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “It’s never easy to narrow it down and that’s a credit to so many who have helped in developing our players, including first and foremost those part of our grassroots infrastructure across the country.”

The 28 players – including three goaltenders, 10 defensemen and 15 forwards – come from 11 different states. Minnesota leads the way with eight representatives. A total of 24 have been drafted by NHL teams, including seven first-round and seven second-round selections. For the full roster, click here.

NHL Network is the exclusive home of the IIHF World Junior Championship in the United States and will air every Team USA game in addition to many others, including all quarterfinal, semifinal and medal games. E.J. Hradek, Dave Starman and Jon Rosen will call all U.S. contests.

The final U.S. roster is expected to be announced by Dec. 24. Team USA has medaled in seven of the last nine IIHF World Junior Championships, including earning gold in the 2024 event.

NOTES: A total of 19 players have played at least one game as part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, including 17 as full-time members of the two-year residency program. The NTDP plays in the USHL, the only Tier I junior league in the U.S. … Of the 28 players, 23 are playing NCAA Division I men’s hockey with four currently competing in the OHL and one in the WHL. Boston College leads NCAA programs with six players on the preliminary roster … The U.S. training camp in Plymouth, Mich., is open to the public. One practice will be held each day, beginning at 11 a.m. ET … All members of the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team’s coaching staff return, as David Carle (University of Denver/Anchorage, Alaska) serves as the head coach of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team. Steve Miller (University of Minnesota/Sun Prairie, Wis.), Brett Larson (St. Cloud State University/Duluth, Minn.) and Garrett Raboin(Augustana University/Detroit Lakes, Minn.) will return as assistant coaches, with David Lassonde (USA Hockey/Durham, N.H.) acting as goaltending coach … Team USA is in Group A and will play preliminary round games against Finland, Canada, Latvia and Germany. Group B includes Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan … For more information about the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship click here.

Roster