URGENT UPDATE: The preliminary roster for the U.S. National Junior Team has been announced, featuring 28 players vying for a spot in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship this December and January in Minnesota. Among those named are Max Plante and Adam Kleber, both standout sophomores from the Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey program, alongside promising goaltender A.J. Reyelts from Proctor.
This announcement comes as excitement builds for the championship, set to take place from December 26 to January 5 at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and the 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. Pre-tournament camps and games will be held at Amsoil Arena in Duluth from December 15-23, where Team USA will practice alongside Finland and Germany.
Plante and Kleber are among the nine returnees who contributed to Team USA’s gold medal win in 2025 in Ottawa. Plante, a winger drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round in 2024, is topping charts with 13 goals and 13 assists this season, tying him for first in points among players nationally. Kleber, a towering 6-foot-5 defenseman selected by the Buffalo Sabres, boasts a stellar plus-14 rating and averages over 21 minutes of ice time per game, establishing himself as a defensive powerhouse.
Reyelts, a 6-foot-2 goaltender currently with the Penticton Vees in the Western Hockey League, is also making headlines. Although he has not yet donned the red, white, and blue for Team USA, he has shown promise with a record of 10-4-5, a .901 save percentage, and a 2.62 goals against average this season. His journey from leading the Rails to 19 wins in his senior year to now being a contender for the national team is a testament to his growth and potential.
The final 25-player roster for Team USA is expected to be confirmed by December 24, just in time for the championship kick-off. Fans can look forward to supporting their team during two pre-tournament games at Amsoil Arena: first against Germany at 4 p.m. on December 21, and then against Finland at 6 p.m. on December 23. Team USA’s first preliminary round match will be against Germany at 5 p.m. on December 26.
As the anticipation for the World Juniors grows, the spotlight shines on these young talents and their potential to bring home the gold once again. Stay tuned for further updates as the tournament approaches!
