Werenski, Pinto among additions to USA’s 2025 World Championship roster
USA Hockey has announced the additions of Columbus Blue Jackets defender Zach Werenski, Minnesota Wild prospect Zeev Buium, Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto and Seattle Kraken winger Mikey Eyssimont to the team’s 2025 World Championship roster.
USA’s roster now sits at 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders for a total of 26. IIHF rosters are made up of 25 players, so one player – likely a defender – will be used as an extra that isn’t registered and instead will be there as an injury replacement.
Werenski is the lone player of the four who participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. The Blue Jackets blueliner was one of USA’s top players en route to a second-place finish. Werenski was recently voted as a finalist for the 2025 Norris Trophy as the league’s top blueliner. Werenski became the first Blue Jackets defenseman in history to lead the team in points, notching 23 goals and 59 assists for 82 points. He ranked second among NHL defensemen in goals and points, was fourth in assists and led all NHL players in average ice time. Werenski has also represented USA twice at the World Championship, which included a seven-point run in eight games a year ago.
Buium was originally taken by the Wild in the first round, 12th overall, of last year’s NHL Draft. He somehow stumbled down the board despite posting an incredible 50 points as a freshman blueliner, helping the Pioneers win the national championship. The former U.S. National Team Development Program star led all college blueliners with 48 points in 41 games this season. His play earned him the title of Hat Trick Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Buium signed his NHL entry-level contract in time for him to play in the Wild’s playoff run to close out August.
Pinto is set for his second World Championship appearance after setting a personal best of 21 goals and 37 points with the Senators this season. Last year, Pinto had nine points in eight games with USA as part of his senior national team debut. Pinto also represented the team at the 2020 World Juniors, registering seven points in five games.
Eyssimont has played in the past two World Championship tournaments, registering four points over 17 games. The 28-year-old split the season with Seattle and Tampa Bay, registering 16 points in 77 games. Unlike the others on this list, Eyssimont had no prior international experience prior to the 2022-23 season.
USA will begin the tournament against Denmark on Friday afternoon at 2:20 PM ET. The Americans beat Germany 5-2 in pre-tournament action on Sunday, their lone action prior to the start of the main event.