BREAKING NEWS: The preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship has just been announced, featuring notable players from Minnesota. Among the 28 athletes, two stars from the Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey program—sophomores Max Plante and Adam Kleber—are set to return after clinching gold for Team USA in 2025.
Joining them is A.J. Reyelts, a promising goaltender from Proctor, who is also on the roster. Currently playing for the Penticton Vees in the Western Hockey League, Reyelts has verbally committed to play for the Bulldogs in the future. This roster highlights the growing talent pool in Minnesota, which is making headlines on a national scale.
The World Juniors will take place from December 26 to January 5 at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus. Pre-tournament games will be hosted at Amsoil Arena in Duluth from December 15 to 23, featuring Team USA, Finland, and Germany.
Max Plante, drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, has been a standout this season with 13 goals and 13 assists, ranking among the highest scorers in the country. Meanwhile, Adam Kleber, a towering 6-foot-5 defenseman selected by the Buffalo Sabres, boasts an impressive plus-14 rating and averages over 21 minutes of ice time per game.
In contrast, A.J. Reyelts has yet to represent the national team but is making waves as a rookie goaltender. He holds a 2.62 goals against average and a .901 save percentage over 19 games this season, contributing to a solid record of 10-4-5 for the Vees.
Team USA will kick off its pre-tournament schedule at Amsoil Arena with games against Germany on December 21 at 4 p.m. and Finland on December 23 at 6 p.m.. The team’s first preliminary round game will be against Germany on December 26 at 5 p.m. in St. Paul.
As the excitement builds for the World Juniors, the final 25-player roster for Team USA is expected to be revealed by December 24, according to USA Hockey. The spotlight is shining bright on these young talents, who are poised to carry the hopes of a nation in the upcoming championship.
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament approaches and follow these players as they aim for gold once again!
