Bruins Prospect Hagens Leads U.S. 2026 World Junior Camp Roster

James Hagens, the Boston Bruins’ seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, will showcase his skills at USA Hockey’s evaluation camp for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. This event brings together 28 players and is scheduled for December 15-23 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minnesota.

2026 IIHF World Junior Championship Details

The tournament will take place from December 26 to January 5 in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The final roster of 25 players will be announced by December 24, prior to the championship.

Camp Roster Breakdown

The camp roster is composed of:

• Three goalies
• Ten defensemen
• Fifteen forwards

Among these are eight players drafted in the first round and another eight from the second round.

Hagens’ Current Performance

As a sophomore at Boston College, Hagens currently leads his team with nine goals and 16 points over 14 games. His performance was instrumental in helping the U.S. secure a gold medal at the 2025 WJC in Ottawa, where he recorded nine points in seven games.

Returning Players

Several players returning from last year’s gold medal squad include:

• Cole Hutson (Washington Capitals)
• Logan Hensler (Ottawa Senators)
• Adam Kleber (Buffalo Sabres)
• Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders)
• Trevor Connelly (Vegas Golden Knights)
• Max Plante (Detroit Red Wings)
• Brody Ziemer (Buffalo Sabres)

Expert Insights

John Vanbiesbrouck, the U.S. National Junior Team general manager, expressed enthusiasm about the selected players. He acknowledged the challenges of narrowing down the roster but is confident that the camp will be highly competitive.

2026 NHL Draft Eligible Players

Some camp invitees are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, including:

• A.J. Reyelts (goalie from Penticton, WHL)
• Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen (defenseman from the University of Michigan)
• Chase Reid (defenseman from Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)

Reid, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 188 pounds, is already on NHL Central Scouting’s watch list, ranking third among OHL defensemen with 28 points this season.

U.S. Group Stage Matchups

At the 2026 WJC, the U.S. team is set to compete in Group A, which includes:

• Sweden
• Slovakia
• Germany

Group B consists of Finland, Czechia, Canada, Latvia, and Denmark.

Conclusion

The upcoming camp will serve as a crucial step for the U.S. team as it aims for a third consecutive WJC gold medal, a feat not achieved since Canada’s five straight wins from 2005-2009.