James Hagens and Top Prospects Gear Up for USA Hockey's Final Evaluation Camp for 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship
James Hagens, the No. 7 pick by the Boston Bruins in the 2025 NHL Draft, is among the 28 players selected to participate in USA Hockey's final evaluation camp for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. The camp will take place from December 15-23 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minnesota, and will determine the 25-player roster for the WJC, scheduled for December 26 to January 5 in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The final U.S. roster is expected to be announced by December 24. The camp roster includes three goalies, 10 defensemen, and 15 forwards, with a mix of first and second-round NHL Draft picks.
Hagens, a forward for Boston College, leads his team with nine goals and 16 points in 14 games as a sophomore this season. He played a key role in the U.S. team's gold medal win at the 2025 WJC in Ottawa, contributing nine points, including five goals and four assists, in seven games. Hagens is teammates with Teddy Stiga, a forward prospect for the Nashville Predators, who is also attending the camp after competing in the 2025 WJC.
Several players returning from the previous WJC include defensemen Cole Hutson, Logan Hensler, and Adam Kleber, as well as forwards Cole Eiserman, Trevor Connelly, Max Plante, and Brody Ziemer. The U.S. National Junior Team general manager, John Vanbiesbrouck, expressed excitement about the talented group of players selected for the camp, anticipating a competitive selection process to finalize the roster.
Three players invited to the camp are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, including goalie A.J. Reyelts from Penticton of the Western Hockey League, and defensemen Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen from the University of Michigan and Chase Reid from Sault Ste. Marie in the Ontario Hockey League. Reid, who received a top rating from NHL Central Scouting, has been a standout defenseman in the OHL, showcasing his skills on both ends of the ice.
The U.S. team aims to secure a third consecutive gold medal at the WJC, a feat not achieved since Canada's five-year streak from 2005-2009. The team will compete in Group A alongside Sweden, Slovakia, and Germany at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. Group B will feature Finland, Czechia, Canada, Latvia, and Denmark at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. The camp roster includes a mix of talented goalies, defensemen, and forwards, all vying for a spot on the final U.S. roster for the prestigious tournament.