James Hagens, a freshman center at Boston College and projected top-four pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is one of 28 players who will participate in USA Hockey’s final evaluation camp for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The camp will be held December 16-17 at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, and will determine the 25-player roster for the WJC, which will be played December 26-January 26 in Ottawa. 5. The final US roster is expected to be announced on December 24th.

Hagens, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch list, is second to Boston College with 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 13 games this season. He was one of the finalists on the 2024 WJC team that won the gold medal after defeating Sweden 6-2 in the championship game in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Washington Capitals junior forward Ryan Leonard and New York Rangers junior forward Gabe Perreault, Hagens’ linemates at Boston College, are two of 10 players who attended the camp, which played at the 2024 WJC.

Also returning are goaltenders Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings) and Samuel Hillebrandt (2025 draft eligible), defensemen Zeev Buium (Minnesota Wild), Drew Fortescue (New York Rangers) and Aram Minnetian (Dallas Stars), and forward Oliver Moore (Chicago Blackhawks). ), Danny Nelson (New York Islanders) and Carey Terrance (Anaheim Ducks).

“We have an outstanding group of players coming to our camp,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager and executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “It’s never easy to narrow it down and that’s a credit to so many who have helped develop our players, especially those who are part of our grassroots football infrastructure across the country.”

In addition to Hagens, three other prospects who are eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft were also invited, including Hillebrandt (Barrie, Ontario Hockey League) and defensemen Blake Fiddler (Edmonton, Western Hockey League) and Logan Hensler (University of Wisconsin). Fiddler and Hensler each received an A grade from NHL Central Scouting on their preliminary Players to Watch list.

The United States will play in Group A at the 2025 WJC along with Canada, Finland, Latvia and Germany, with preliminary round games being played at the Canadian Tire Centre. Group B consists of Sweden, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan, with preliminary round games at TD Place.

The USA and Canada play on December 31 (8:00 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN), the final night of the preliminary round. This will be the first time the rivals will meet on New Year’s Eve since the 2017 WJC in Toronto.

Canada also announced its 32-man squad for selection camp on Monday.

USA HOCKEY WJC SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

GOAL GAMES: Trey Augustine, Michigan State, NCAA (Detroit Red Wings); Samuel Hillebrandt, Barrie, OHL (2025 draft eligible); Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, NCAA (Los Angeles Kings)

DEFENDER: Zeev Buium, Denver, NCAA (Minnesota Wild); EJ Emery, North Dakota, NCAA (New York Rangers); Blake Fiddler, Edmonton, WHL (2025 draft eligible); Paul Fischer, Notre Dame, NCAA (Edmonton Oilers); Drew Fortescue, Boston College, NCAA (New York Rangers); Logan Hensler, Wisconsin, NCAA (2025 draft eligible); Cole Hutson, Boston University, NCAA (Washington Capitals); Adam Kleber, Minnesota Duluth, NCAA (Buffalo Sabres); Aram Minnetian, Boston College, NCAA (Dallas Stars); Colin Ralph, St. Cloud State, NCAA (St. Louis Blues)

FORWARD: Austin Burnevik, St. Cloud State, NCAA (Anaheim Ducks); Trevor Connelly, Providence, NCAA (Vegas Golden Knights); Cole Eiserman, Boston University, NCAA (New York Islanders); James Hagens, Boston College, NCAA (2025 draft eligible); Ryan Leonard, Boston College, NCAA (Washington Capitals); Oliver Moore, Minnesota, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks); Danny Nelson, Notre Dame, NCAA (New York Islanders); Christopher Pelosi, Quinnipiac, NCAA (Boston Bruins); Gabe Perreault, Boston College, NCAA (New York Rangers); AJ Spellacy, Windsor, OHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Teddy Stiga, Boston College, NCAA (Nashville Predators); Brandon Svoboda, Boston University, NCAA (San Jose Sharks); Carey Terrance, Erie, OHL (Anaheim Ducks); Joey Willis, Saginaw, OHL (Nashville Predators); Brodie Ziemer, Minnesota, NCAA (Buffalo Sabres)