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WJC: 2026 Team USA Roster Talk

LJ Mooney and Chase Reid have to be near locks at this point. We lack dynamic offensive players which these two are (Reid on the backend). Light on goal scoring ability but Connelly and Eiserman have to carry that load.

This might be the team we have to take some chances on skill. The defense should be good enough and sturdy enough to hold the fort down. We lack firepower. So don't leave these kids at home for plugs.
 
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chaser17 said:
I was there, loudest building I've ever been in when Eberle scored twice in the final minutes to tie it. Pin drop after the OT winner. Jake Allen was horrific I remember, Martin Jones had to go in. I think the USA started got yanked for Jack Campbell as well?
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Mike Lee I believe
 
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Cole Eiserman - James Hagens - Brodie Ziemer
Trevor Connelly - Cullen Potter- Teddy Stiga
Kristian Epperson - William Moore - LJ Mooney
Max Plante - Kamil Bednarik - AJ Spellacy
McKinney/Vansaghi

Cole Hutson - Logan Hensler
Will Skahan - Blake Fiddler
Elliott Groenewold - Chase Reid
Adam Kleber - EJ Embry
Amico

Nick Kempf


This team can still win a Gold. If a few of these continue to build and surprise, our depth looks great. Defensively we are deep. Goaltending with Kempf should hold. Just comes down to what kind of offense are we? Who drives the lines? Hagens makes this happen much more confidently but there is still a lot of depth and skill here to pick from. Minimize the plugs offensively.
 
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Carvel I definitely wouldn't mind, and I can see getting the job at some point. Don't know when that'll be, but he's done a great job with that program.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
Carvel I definitely wouldn't mind, and I can see getting the job at some point. Don't know when that'll be, but he's done a great job with that program.
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Carvel would be a massive disappointment for me. There is no bigger baby in college hockey coaching than him. He's the ultimate "everyone is out to get me" coach and always deflecting blame. Plus UMass has stunk the past 3 years, no thanks
 
I don't know, but Nightingale never convinced me in NTDP. I'm not sure if I want him as the head coach of the WJC team.

Mayotte won two golds as an assistant coach, so at least he has a good relationship with USA Hockey. Who knows. He would be a surprise pick but I wouldn't hate it.

Naurato is not ready for this job yet. Kevin Reiter is his assistant coach in Michigan, who has strong ties to USA Hockey, but I don't see any chance it would be Naurato.

I'm not his biggest fan, but I'm surprised that Brett Larson's name hasn't come up much. Maybe no one wants it, but back to back as an assistant coach so I see him in a good position to become the head coach if Carle doesn't continue.

Maybe Steve Miller finally wants to try as a head coach. 4 gold medals speak for themselves, but I think he will be involved as a assistant coach again.

Personally, I liked Motzko. I think he got a little too much criticism from the 2018 tournament in Buffalo, where they took bronze. However, I would believe that this chapter is closed in his career. I don't hate it if he comes back, but I don't believe it's going to happen either.

Nate Leaman has proven that he can bring gold. I wouldn't give too much weight to that 2022 summer tournament.

What about outfield picks like Steve Rohlik or Luke Strand? I guess there is a reason why Rohlik has never been involved with the USA Hockey. Strand on the other hand won the USHL championship a couple of years ago and led the U18 team to bronze medal in Hilinka as head coach so he has a foot in the door with USA Hockey. Maybe an assistant coach job?

Barr would be a very Carle style choice and maybe my favorite. However, I'm betting it's Pandolfo.
 
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Sounds like Carle is very interested in a 3 peat here. Would take a significant offer to pry him from Denver but if he doesn't go pro looks like he would very much relish the opportunity to defend the back to back titles at home. Good listen..

 
SK94 said:
I don't know, but Nightingale never convinced me in NTDP. I'm not sure if I want him as the head coach of the WJC team.

Mayotte won two golds as an assistant coach, so at least he has a good relationship with USA Hockey. Who knows. He would be a surprise pick but I wouldn't hate it.

Naurato is not ready for this job yet. Kevin Reiter is his assistant coach in Michigan, who has strong ties to USA Hockey, but I don't see any chance it would be Naurato.

I'm not his biggest fan, but I'm surprised that Brett Larson's name hasn't come up much. Maybe no one wants it, but back to back as an assistant coach so I see him in a good position to become the head coach if Carle doesn't continue.

Maybe Steve Miller finally wants to try as a head coach. 4 gold medals speak for themselves, but I think he will be involved as a assistant coach again.

Personally, I liked Motzko. I think he got a little too much criticism from the 2018 tournament in Buffalo, where they took bronze. However, I would believe that this chapter is closed in his career. I don't hate it if he comes back, but I don't believe it's going to happen either.

Nate Leaman has proven that he can bring gold. I wouldn't give too much weight to that 2022 summer tournament.

What about outfield picks like Steve Rohlik or Luke Strand? I guess there is a reason why Rohlik has never been involved with the USA Hockey. Strand on the other hand won the USHL championship a couple of years ago and led the U18 team to bronze medal in Hilinka as head coach so he has a foot in the door with USA Hockey. Maybe an assistant coach job?

Barr would be a very Carle style choice and maybe my favorite. However, I'm betting it's Pandolfo.
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If Carle wants it the job it's his. With Nightingale he has turned around a MSU program that had flat-lined since Justin Abdelkader's OT National Championship winner. I know I follow the program being from Michigan originally but it is hard to understate the change he did in East Lansing and the speed he accomplished it in. People can say that is all Augustine, but I think it suggests the kind of coach he is and he has a ton of experience with the USMNTDP. I would be surprised if he isn't one of the heavy favorites if Carle goes to the NHL or turns down the role.
 
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Nightingale seems most logical although with it being in Minnesota and Larson already an assistant, I could see them offering it to him. Maybe Larson/Nightingale combo.
 
Larson is a no for me right now after that horrible Burnevik stunt.

We also had some trouble over the years with coaches of these small college hockey programs that have a little success, and then they get a higher profile job like the World Juniors coach where they have a lot of higher level NHL prospects and they don't know how to handle them. They think they can treat them like the 22 year old freshman grinders they bring into their program, and it doesn't work.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
Larson is a no for me right now after that horrible Burnevik stunt.

We also had some trouble over the years with coaches of these small college hockey programs that have a little success, and then they get a higher profile job like the World Juniors coach where they have a lot of higher level NHL prospects and they don't know how to handle them. They think they can treat them like the 22 year old freshman grinders they bring into their program, and it doesn't work.
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I 100% agree with you but I think he is very well positioned. Back to back as an assistant. Next year there won't be such a star studded team either, so who knows, maybe it could work well this time.
 
JiggsNY said:
yeah it could be a couple of down years now sadly. the 04s and 05s were loaded with first rounders and 06 (if we remove Hagens), 07 and 08 just dont have the same firepower

I do find it cool how our best birthyears get the job done

97s in 2016
01s in 2021
04s in 2024
05s in 2025
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The '04s in 2004 and '93 in 2013 were very good also. In fact I would say if you picked in hindsight the '04 Team you would be adding Quick (2G), Byfuglien (4D) Pavelski (2C), Callahan, Backes (3C) & Boyle (4C).
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
Friedman suggested on his podcast today that there's a good chance the coach will be Motzko.
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It’d make a bit of sense. It seems like Vanbiesbruck has a few “qualifications” and one of them is long term sustained success as a college head coach. None of Pandolfo, Nightengale, Brown or Barr have that yet. Carvel isn’t even on my board but I know some others think he should be in the running, but his lack of success the past 3 years should take him off the board as well. The other “qualification” seems like it’s a recent semi final or finals appearance. Motzko is one of the few guys who fit that mold. I would prefer to see one of those other guys get a shot with my obvious biased perspective of Brown but the logic makes sense

I’d rather see Motzko there than Hastings, Sandelin, or Leaman if we’re going with someone who’s coached before
 
Motzko is a deserving but uninspiring choice when we have young up and coming coaches worthy of the opportunity. Yes, the primary goal is to win gold, but preparing coaches for bigger and better opportunities is important, too. Motzko is already at his ceiling with USAH.
 
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