2023 World Junior Championship: Breaking down USA’s camp roster

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
2023 World Junior Championship: Breaking down USA’s camp roster
Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

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Some of the teams competing at the 2023 World Junior Championship in Halifax and Moncton started to release camp rosters on Monday, including the United States.

After falling out of the quarterfinal during the 2022 tournament in August, USA is determined to get back into medal contention after winning the fan-less edition the year before. USA has some serious MVP candidates in Logan Cooley and Luke Hughes, while having eight potential returning players when they head to Moncton later this month.

A total of 32 players were named to USA’s camp roster, with nine players to be cut after camp next week in Michigan. A few days ago, I released my projected USA roster, which already was ruined due to two players, in particular, being left off – but more on that later. Here’s a look at what the team looks like, and what you need to know:

Forwards to watch

While there’s no generational talent in USA’s lineup, they at least have a hard-working mantra. Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier and  Jimmy Snuggerud should revive the first-line antics that saw them produce incredible numbers with the USNTDP. I think Rutger McGroarty, Chaz Lucius and Dylan Duke will make up USA’s second line, giving them a solid top six to work with.

One name to specifically watch – and one I’ve profiled a few times for Daily Faceoff – is Will Smith. He has slapped the competition with the USNTDP this year and I feel like, despite being a 2023 draft prospect, he’ll force his way into playing time once he gets comfortable. Like the rest of the U-18 team, they’re used to playing against older competition in the NCAA, and I feel like Smith can handle a pivotal role in Moncton this year. Other 2023 draft prospects include Ryan Leonard, Charlie Stramel and Gavin Brindley, with Stramel being the closest to a lock of the trio.

Defense is king

Compared to their Northern counterparts, who’ll rely a lot on some of the heavy hitters up front to contribute scoring, USA is more back-end heavy. Luke Hughes is the obvious star of the blueline, with the New Jersey Devils prospect putting an absolute beating on the rest of the NCAA. Lane Hutson, a Montreal Canadiens draft pick, has been excellent as a freshman and will contribute a ton of offense along the way.

Returning defenders from August include Jack Peart and Sean Behrens, both of whom should play notable roles. Seamus Casey will be one to watch after an explosive start to the season with the University of Michigan. Will the team use him much, given the two-way play of the double LH’s?

If I had to guess, Luke Mittelstadt, Ryan Ufko and Aidan Hreschuk will be cut from this group, but I don’t think those decisions will come lightly, either.

Who’ll start in net?

USA elected to bring four goaltenders to camp: Trey Augustine, Kaidan Mbereko, Tyler Muszelik and Andrew Oke. Mbereko was the starter for USA during the summer and played well enough before the quarterfinal. That experience would make him a frontrunner, but as I wrote last week, I think Augustine deserves the role. Sure, he’s the youngest of the lot and still plays with the USA U-18 team, but he’s been lights out this season, including against NCAA competition. I feel like he’s done enough to deserve the best shot going forward, but that might be wishful thinking.

So, let’s say those are two of the three. Muszelik, a sixth-round pick by Florida in 2022, has struggled with the University of New Hampshire but is the only goalie drafted of the four. Andrew Oke was on the summer team as well, but he has only played eight games for the Saginaw Spirit this year. Granted, that’s more than Muszelik, but if it’s a tiebreaker to see who gets backup/third goalie duty, I think they’ll go with the NCAA kid. Could be wrong, though.

Notable omissions

It always felt like USA preferred homegrown talents – players in the NCAA or USHL. That’s the only real justification as to why two of the OHL’s top scorers – Ty Voit (48 points, first) and Sasha Pastujov (36 points, second) – didn’t crack the squad. Even as a 13th forward, Voit’s offensive exploits would have been huge. They don’t have the gangbusters offense to make up for what will likely be a deficiency in the crease, so it only made sense to bring over two of the best scorers in one of the top junior leagues in the world.

Pastujov, on the other hand, felt 100 percent like a lock. He was a vital part of the summer team, sits fourth in goals in the OHL and has ties to some potential teammates from his days with the USNTDP. This feels an unfair and undeserving slight by the Americans given how well he’s played since August.

What to make of the camp roster

Regardless of who didn’t make it, which is always the bigger topic when initial rosters are made public, USA should be in contention for gold. It came short in 2022, but much of the core will return for vengeance. It’s hard to vote against the Americans, who seem to take things to a newer level when battling against Canada for a medal on Canadian soil.

I don’t think this is the best roster USA could have put up, and it’ll be interesting to see the official justification for leaving off Voit and Pastujov. That being said, if USA thinks having someone like Tyler Boucher in a physical fourth-line role is better than asking one of those two to take on more defensive responsibility, fine.

But overall, I like this group. They should factor into the medal conversation, but it’s still asking a lot out of their goaltenders to get the job done.

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