MATCHDAY | The USA will face Germany in the junior world opener today

Team USA met in Plymouth, Michigan on December 15th to begin the World Juniors journey at the USA Hockey Arena. The U.S. departed for Kingston, Ontario on December 18 and continued its preparation, which included a pre-tournament game against Slovakia on December 21 (6-2 win). Team USA traveled to Cornwall, Ontario for a quick stop where they played Finland (5-2 win) in their other preseason contest before arriving here in Ottawa on December 23rd at 9 p.m.

David Carle (Anchorage, Alaska) is back to lead the U.S. junior national team after leading them to gold at the tournament last year and says preparations have gone well.

“We have a good group,” said Carle, who is also the head coach at the University of Denver, where he led the Pioneers to two NCAA Division I national titles (2022, 2024) in his first six seasons. “As a team, we liked the progress our team made during our camp and two games prior to the tournament and we will look to continue to build on that as the tournament begins.”

This is the 15th time the USA and Germany have ever met at the World Junior Championships, and Team USA has won all but one of the first 14 meetings. The teams last met in the quarterfinals of the 2023 tournament, with the USA claiming an 11-1 victory.

Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass./Boston College) serves as Team USA captain, while forwards Oliver Moore (Mounds View, Minn./University of Minnesota), Danny Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn./University of Minnesota) and Gabe play Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill./Boston College) and defenseman Zeev Buium (San Diego, Calif./University of Denver) are assistant captains.

The U.S. roster includes 10 players who were part of the U.S. Junior National Team a year ago and 22 NHL draft picks, including 14 first- and second-round picks.