USA Hockey

10 Minnesotans named to 2025 U.S. Junior Select Junior A Challenge Team to compete in Quebec Dec. 7-13

Posted on by Let's Play Hockey

Former Minnetonka standout and Reed Larson Award winner John Stout is one of 10 players from Minnesota to make the 2025 U/.S/ Junior Select team. LPH PHOTO BY BRYAN ZOLLMAN

Team will compete Dec. 7-13 in Quebec

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey announced today the roster for the 2025 U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, from Dec. 7-13.

The 21-player roster features 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. Nine of the players are from Minnesota, making up 45 percent of the roster.

Those players include: Gunnar Conboy (Lakeville, MN), Caleb Heil (Victoria, MN), Danny Klaers (Wayzata, MN), Garrett Lindberg (Moorhead, MN), Mace’o Phillips (Wayzata, MN), Carson Pilgrim (Warroad, MN), Ashton Schultz (Excelsior, MN), Brent Solomon (Champlin, MN), Bode Laylin (St. Michael, MN) and John Stout (Minnetonka, MN). 

The 2025 U.S. Junior Select Team is highlighted by five players selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, including third-round selection Mace’o Phillips (Wayzata, Minn./Green Bay Gamblers/Calgary Flames); fourth-rounder Brett Solomon (Champlin, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede/Detroit Red Wings); sixth-round picks Ashton Schultz (Excelsior, Minn./Chicago Steel/Buffalo Sabres) and Carter Sanderson (Pierre, S.D./Muskegon Lumberjacks/Pittsburgh Penguins); and seventh-round draftee Caleb Heil (Victoria, Minn./Madison Capitols/Tampa Bay Lightning).

Heil returns from the 2024 U.S. Junior Select Team that captured last year’s World Junior A Challenge championship and also competed in the 2023 tournament.

The roster includes nine players from Minnesota, two from California, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and one from Alaska, Massachusetts, Michigan and South Dakota.

Brent Solomon is a pure goal scorer who will join eight other Minensotans on the 2025 national team roster. LPH PHOTO BY BRYAN ZOLLMAN

COACHING, SUPPORT STAFF NAMED

Marc Boxer (Hancock, Mich./USA Hockey) is the general manager of the 2025 U.S. Junior Select Team. Andy Brandt (Wausau, Wis./Madison Capitols) will serve as head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team, joined by assistant coaches Patrick McCadden (Chesterfield, Mo./Green Bay Gamblers), Ryan Cruthers (Farmingdale, N.Y./Sioux Falls Stampede) and Hank Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn./Fargo Force).

The support staff includes equipment manager Chris Kiefer (Aurora, Ill./Waterloo Black Hawks), athletic trainer Nick Hart (Lincoln, Neb./Omaha Lancers), strength and conditioning coach Spenser Popinga (Hartland, Wis./Waterloo Black Hawks), team physician Dr. Kevin Murray(Los Gatos, Calif.) and communications coordinator Francis Forte (Independence Township, N.J./USA Hockey).

Following a pre-tournament game on Dec. 5 against Canada West in Montmagny, Quebec, the U.S. opens the World Junior A Challenge on Dec. 7 against Canada East at 3 p.m. ET. All games will be streamed live HERE. For Team USA’s full schedule, click HERE.

NOTES: Since the inaugural World Junior A Challenge in 2006, Team USA has captured 10 championships (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024) … Team USA’s roster is comprised of athletes currently competing in the United States Hockey League, the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league … To follow Team USA throughout the 2025 World Jr. A Challenge, click HERE.