COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four current National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) players will have a chance to represent the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, as USA Hockey revealed the U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster on Monday.
 
North Dakota sophomore defenseman EJ Emery, Minnesota Duluth sophomore blueliner Adam Kleber, Denver freshman forward Brendan McMorrow and UMD sophomore forward Max Plante are all among 28 players invited to be part of Team USA. The players are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-man roster that will represent the United States in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, which runs from Dec. 26, 2025 until Jan. 5, 2026, in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Three of the four NCHC players selected are Minnesota natives.
 
Team USA will convene for a training camp from Dec. 15-23 at AMSOIL Arena, home of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs where Kleber and Plante play their home games. Exhibition games are slated for Dec. 21 (vs. Germany) and Dec. 23 (vs. Finland) in Duluth. The final U.S. roster is expected to be announced by Dec. 24.
 
Kleber and Plante are looking to play on the team for a second straight year after both helped Team USA win gold at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Canada.
 
Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) has started his sophomore season on fire, earning NCHC October Forward of the Month honors and co-National Forward of the Month accolades. The Detroit Red Wings draft pick is tied for the NCAA lead with 26 points, while his 1.63 points per game are solo first nationally. His 13 goals lead the NCHC and tie for second in the NCAA, while he’s also dished out 13 assists in 16 games. Plante’s +16 plus/minus ranks second in the NCHC and fifth in the country. At last year’s World Juniors, he tallied three points (1g/2a) in six games.
 
Kleber (Chaska, Minn.) has been a lock-down defenseman for the Bulldogs this season, playing in all 16 games. The Buffalo Sabres draft pick has posted a +14 plus/minus this year, which is tied for fourth among NCAA blueliners, while blocking 20 shots and averaging more than 21 minutes on ice per game. Offensively, he’s chipped in two goals and three points, matching his freshman season goal total already. In six games at last year’s World Junior Championship, Kleber handed out one assist and was +5.
 
Emery (Compton, Calif.) was named to last year’s U.S. preliminary roster as well, but was one of the final cuts. The New York Rangers first round draft pick has put together a strong sophomore campaign on the backend for the Fighting Hawks, having appeared in 13 of the team's 14 games. Emery has tallied two goals – the first two of his college career – and two assists for a career-best four points already this season. He also carries a +5 plus/minus and has seven blocked shots in his sophomore campaign.
 
McMorrow (Lakeville, Minn.), the lone freshman among the NCHC quartet on the preliminary roster, has compiled five points in 13 games this season for the Pioneers. The L.A. Kings draft pick scored his lone goal in a win at Boston College on Oct. 24, while he’s dished out four assists. McMorrow has fired 18 shots on goal and has a +4 plus/minus, as well.
 
In addition to the four current skaters, two future committed NCHC goaltenders were also named to the preliminary roster in Caleb Heil and AJ Reyelts. Heil (Victoria, Minn.) is slated to join North Dakota next season, while Reyelts (Proctor, Minn.) has committed to Minnesota Duluth for the 2026-27 campaign. Heil, a Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick, is currently a netminder for the Madison Capitols in the USHL, while Reyelts plays in the WHL, tending net for the Penticton Vees.
 
Team USA has medaled in eight of the last 10 World Junior Championships, including gold in 2024 and 2025 under the direction of Denver head coach David Carle. Last year, along with Kleber and Plante, four other NCHC players helped the U.S. capture gold, including St. Cloud State sophomore forward Austin Burnevik and Western Michigan sophomore goalie Hampton Slukynsky.
 
NHL Network is the exclusive home of the IIHF World Junior Championship in the United States and will air every Team USA game in addition to many others, including all quarterfinal, semifinal and medal games. E.J. Hradek, Dave Starman and Jon Morosi will call all U.S. contests.
 
Current NCHC Players on 2026 USNJT Preliminary Roster

• EJ Emery, North Dakota, D, So.
• Adam Kleber, Minnesota Duluth, D, So.
• Brendan McMorrow, Denver, F, Fr.
• Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth, F, So.