The initial 2023 World Juniors roster for the USA is here, as the team has invited 32 players to its selection camp ahead of the tournament.
Among those invited are a number of standout returners to the team. Devils prospect Luke Hughes and Coyotes draft pick Logan Cooley are expected to lead the way for the team. It will be the second World Juniors for the duo, who were a part of the 2022 team that suffered an early exit in the quarterfinals with an upset loss to Czechia.
Other returners are Red Savage, (Red Wings), defensemen Jack Peart (Wild) and Sean Behrens (Avalanche), as well as undrafted goaltender Kaidan Mbereko. The team will have plenty of new faces as well, as 2022 draft picks that are expected to be on the roster are Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier, Canadiens selection Lane Hutson and Blues pick Jimmy Snuggerud.
Two omissions from the camp roster that jump out are Sasha Pastujov and Ty Voit. Pastujov, a Ducks prospect, was on the team in 2022 and had four points in five games at the 2022 World Juniors. Voit, a Maple Leafs draft pick, is the OHL's leading scorer with 48 points in 27 games.
USA head coach Rand Pecknold will have to cut the roster down to 25 before the competition begins the day after Christmas.
MORE: Where is the 2023 World Juniors?
Here is a look at the players that have been invited to camp for Team USA.
Team USA pre-tournament camp roster
Forwards
| No. | Player | Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Jackson Blake | North Dakota (NCAA) | Hurricanes |
| 13 | Tyler Boucher | Ottawa (OHL) | Senators |
| 5 | Gavin Brindley | Michigan (NCAA) | 2023 Draft |
| 27 | Kenny Connors | UMass (NCAA) | Kings |
| 92 | Logan Cooley* | Minnesota (NCAA) | Coyotes |
| 4 | Jack Devine | Denver (NCAA) | Panthers |
| 25 | Dylan Duke | Michigan (NCAA) | Lightning |
| 17 | Cutter Gauthier | Boston College (NCAA) | Flyers |
| 26 | Noah Laba | Colorado College (NCAA) | Rangers |
| 10 | Ryan Leonard | USA U18 (NTDP) | 2023 Draft |
| 22 | Sam Lipkin | Quinnipiac (NCAA) | Undrafted |
| 16 | Chaz Lucius | Manitoba (AHL) | Jets |
| 14 | Cam Lund | Northeastern (NCAA) | Sharks |
| 2 | Rutger McGroarty | Michigan (NCAA) | 2023 Draft |
| 19 | Red Savage* | Miami (NCAA) | Red Wings |
| 3 | Will Smith | USA U18 (NTDP) | 2023 Draft |
| 18 | Jimmy Snuggerud | Minnesota (NCAA) | Blues |
| 28 | Charlie Stramel* | Wisconsin (NCAA) | 2023 Draft |
Defense
| No. | Player | Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Sean Behrens* | Denver (NCAA) | Avalanche |
| 8 | Shai Buium | Denver (NCAA) | Red Wings |
| 24 | Seamus Casey | Michigan (NCAA) | Devils |
| 71 | Ryan Chesley | Minnesota (NCAA) | Capitals |
| 43 | Luke Hughes* | Michigan (NCAA) | Devils |
| 20 | Lane Hutson | Boston University (NCAA) | Canadiens |
| 7 | Aidan Hreschuk | Boston College (NCAA) | Hurricanes |
| 21 | Luke Mittlelstadt | Minnesota (NCAA) | Undrafted |
| 23 | Jack Peart* | St. Cloud State (NCAA) | Wild |
| 6 | Ryan Ufko | UMass (NCAA) | Predators |
Goalies
| No. | Player | Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trey Augustine | USA U18 (NTDP) | 2023 Draft |
| 30 | Kaidan Mbereko* | Colorado College | Undrafted |
| 31 | Tyler Muszelik | New Hampshire (NCAA) | Panthers |
| 29 | Andrew Oke* | Saginaw (OHL) | Undrafted |
* = returner from 2022
When do the 2023 World Juniors start?
- Start date: December 26, 2022
- End date: January 5, 2023
With the 2023 tournament starting at the normal time of the year, that means the competition kicks off the day after Christmas, December 26.
The group stage starts will take place over the first six days. The quarterfinals will be played on Jan. 2, the semifinals on Jan. 4 and the tournament will conclude with the bronze and gold medal games on Jan. 5.
How to watch 2023 World Juniors games on TV, live stream
- TV channel (U.S.): NHL Network
- Live stream (U.S.): fuboTV
- TV channel (Canada): TSN
- Live stream (Canada): TSN.ca, TSN app
TSN and the NHL Network will once again be home to all of the action for the 2023 World Juniors.
Canadian viewers can watch the competition on TSN or can stream the games through TSN.ca or on the TSN app.
The American audience can view the games live on TV on the NHL Network, or can stream them through fuboTV.
MORE: Watch the 2023 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)
Where are the 2023 World Juniors?
- Location: Halifax N.S./Moncton, N.B.
- Venue: Scotiabank Centre/Avenir Centre
The World Juniors will once again be split between two host cities, as the tournament will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick.
The games in Halifax will be played at the Scotiabank Centre, the home of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads. Any of the contests in Moncton will be played at the Avenir Centre, where the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats call home.
This will be the second time Halifax is a host city for the World Juniors. Previously, the 2003 World Juniors were split between Halifax and Sydney, N.S. Moncton has never hosted the World Juniors before.
The 2023 tournament was originally planned to be held in Russia, with Novosibirsk and Omsk as the two host cities. However, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, their rights were pulled by the IIHF.