GAME DAY | U.S. To Take On Germany in World Juniors Opener Today

OTTAWA, Ontario – The U.S. National Junior Team opens play in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship here today against Germany in the first of its four preliminary round games. Opening faceoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen live on NHL Network.

The 10 teams in the World Juniors are split into two groups with Team USA joining Finland, Canada, Latvia and Germany in Group A and playing its preliminary round games at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. Across town, Group B – which includes Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan – will contest its preliminary round games at TD Place. Both venues will host quarterfinal games while Canadian Tire Centre will stage the semifinal and medal games.

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Team USA gathered in Plymouth, Michigan, to begin the World Juniors journey at USA Hockey Arena on Dec. 15. The U.S. departed for Kingston, Ontario, on Dec. 18 and continued its preparation there, which included a pre-tournament game against Slovakia on Dec. 21 (6-2 win). Team USA moved to Cornwall, Ontario, for a brief stop where it faced Finland in its other tune-up contest (5-2 win) before arriving here in Ottawa at 9 p.m. on Dec. 23.

David Carle (Anchorage, Alaska) is back to guide the U.S. National Junior Team after leading it to gold at last year’s tournament and says preparations have gone well.

“We have a good group,” said Carle, who is also the head coach at the University of Denver, where he has guided the Pioneers to a pair of NCAA Division I national titles (2022, 2024) in his first six seasons. “As a staff, we’ve liked the progress our team has made through our camp and two pre-tournament games, and we’ll look to continue to build on that as we start the tournament.”

The U.S. and Germany battle today for the 15th time ever in the World Juniors, and Team USA has won all but one of the first 14 meetings. The teams last met in the quarterfinals of the 2023 tournament with the U.S. gaining an 11-1 victory. 

Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass./Boston College) is serving as captain of Team USA, while forwards Oliver Moore (Mounds View, Minn./University of Minnesota), Danny Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn./University of Minnesota) and Gabe Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill./Boston College), and defenseman Zeev Buium (San Diego, Calif./University of Denver) are alternate captains.

The U.S. roster includes 10 players who were part of the U.S. National Junior Team a year ago and 22 NHL draft picks, including 14 first and second-round picks.

World Juniors Insider 2025 WJC Home Team USA Roster

Source: usahockey.com