United States announces roster for 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase

William Smith, No. 3 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, is one of 44 USA Hockey players invited to the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase.

The camp will be held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, from July 27-Aug. 4, and feature practices and games against Finland and Sweden. The event will help the U.S. select its roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be held in Sweden from Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2024.

Smith had 127 points (51 goals, 76 assists) in 60 games for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, including 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in seven games to help the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in April. Smith was named most valuable player and tied a U.S. record for the tournament held by current New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes.

"The thing that stood out to me with him is he's very complete," said Pat Cullen of Central Scouting. "The numbers are off the charts, the goals and the assists and the points obviously really jump off the page at you, but I think [also] how complete he is. He is an unbelievably good penalty killer. He's not just a one-way guy. His backcheck effort was always good. There were games where I think you could go watch him play and even if he doesn't get on the score sheet, which it's seldom he doesn't, you could walk away from the rink saying he was the best player in the game."

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Smith is one of eight players in Central Scouting's top 32 who will be at the camp, including his NTDP teammates, forwards Ryan Leonard (No. 5), Oliver Moore (No. 8), Gabriel Perreault (No. 10) and Danny Nelson (No. 22). Forward Quentin Musty of Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League (No. 14), Gavin Brindley of the University of Michigan (No. 23) and Charlie Stramel of the University of Wisconsin (No. 30) have also been invited.

There also will be six players who were chosen in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft taking part, including St. Louis Blues forward prospect Jimmy Snuggerud, who helped the U.S. finish third at the 2023 WJC with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in seven games.

Snuggerud will be one of seven players returning from the 2022 team, along with Brindley, Stramel, forwards Cutter Gauthier (Philadelphia Flyers) and Rutger McGroarty (Winnipeg Jets), and defensemen Ryan Chesley (Washington Capitals) and Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens).

The camp also will feature two players expected to be top prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft, forward Cole Eiserman and defenseman Zeev Buium.

U.S. WORLD JUNIOR SUMMER SHOWCASE ROSTER

GOALIES: Trey Augustine, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Jacob Fowler, Youngstown, USHL (2023 draft eligible); Tyler Muszelik, New Hampshire, NCAA (Florida Panthers); Andrew Oke, Saginaw, OHL (2023 draft eligible); Hampton Slukynsky, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible)

DEFENSEMEN: Vincent Borgesi, Northeastern, NCAA (2023 draft eligible); Garrett Brown, Waterloo, USHL (Winnipeg Jets); Hunter Brzustewicz, Kitchener, OHL (2023 draft eligible); Zeev Buium, USA U-18, NTDP (2024 draft eligible); Seamus Casey, Michigan, NCAA (New Jersey Devils); Ryan Chesley, Minnesota, NCAA (Washington Capitals); Jackson Dorrington, Northeastern, NCAA (Vancouver Canucks); Tyler Duke, Ohio State, NCAA (2023 draft eligible); Paul Fischer, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Drew Fortescue, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Lane Hutson, Boston University, NCAA (Montreal Canadiens); Charles Leddy, Boston College, NCAA (New Jersey Devils); Jake Livanavage, Chicago, USHL (2023 draft eligible); Eric Pohlkamp, Cedar Rapids, USHL (2023 draft eligible); Sam Rinzel, Waterloo, USHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Zachary Schulz, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible)

FORWARDS:Gavin Brindley, Michigan, NCAA (2023 draft eligible); Cole Eiserman, USA U-18, NTDP (2024 draft eligible); Quinn Finley, Chicago, USHL (New York Islanders); Cutter Gauthier, Boston College, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers); James Hagens, USA U-18, NTDP (2025 draft eligible); Gavin Hayes, Flint, OHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Isaac Howard, Minnesota Duluth, NCAA (Tampa Bay Lightning); Devin Kaplan, Boston University, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers); Cole Knuble, Fargo, USHL (2023 draft eligible); Ryan Leonard, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Cruz Lucius, Wisconsin, NCAA (Carolina Hurricanes); Tanner Ludtke, Lincoln, USHL (2023 draft eligible); Cameron Lund, Northeastern, NCAA (San Jose Sharks); Rutger McGroarty, Michigan, NCAA (Winnipeg Jets); Oliver Moore, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Quentin Musty, Sudbury, OHL (2023 draft eligible); Frank Nazar, Michigan, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks); Danny Nelson, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Gabriel Perreault, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); William Smith, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota, NCAA (St. Louis Blues); Charlie Stramel, Wisconsin, NCAA (2023 draft eligible); William Whitelaw, Youngstown, USHL (2023 draft eligible)

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